Exploring the Buddhist concept of self as an illusion, this volume delves into the implications of relinquishing self-centered impulses. It draws from early Buddhist texts across Theravada, Tibetan Indian, and Chinese Zen traditions, marking a significant addition to the Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series. The authors, Jay Garfield, Maria Heim, and Robert Sharf, translate and interpret key texts, emphasizing that while we are interdependent beings, the absence of a core self offers a constructive perspective on personal identity, ethics, and our role in the world.
Buddhist Ethics presents an outline of Buddhist ethical thought. It is not a defense of Buddhist approaches to ethics as opposed to any other, nor is it a critique of the Western tradition. Garfield presents a broad overview of a range of Buddhist approaches to the question of moral philosophy. He draws on a variety of thinkers, reflecting the great diversity of this 2500-year-old tradition in philosophy but also the principles that tie them together. In particular, he engages with the literature that argues that Buddhist ethics is best understood as a species of virtue ethics, and with those who argue that it is best understood as consequentialist. Garfield argues that while there are important points of contact with these Western frameworks, Buddhist ethics is distinctive, and is a kind of moral phenomenology that is concerned with the ways in which we experience ourselves as agents and others as moral fellows. With this framework, Garfield explores the connections between Buddhist ethics and recent work in moral particularism, such as that of Jonathan Dancy, as well as the British and Scottish sentimentalist tradition represented by Hume and Smith.
In Losing Ourselves, Jay Garfield, an expert in Buddhist philosophy, presents a compelling argument about the concept of self and its implications for our lives. He draws from Indian and East Asian Buddhism, Daoism, Western philosophy, and cognitive neuroscience to illustrate that while it's natural to believe in a self, this belief is ultimately misguided and can be harmful. Garfield argues that letting go of the self-illusion can lead to personal growth and improved relationships. Through a thorough examination of various arguments regarding the existence of the self, he asserts that denying its reality can foster healthier social and moral lives. The book highlights the transformative power of the Buddhist notion of no-self, emphasizing its practical benefits. Embracing this perspective allows individuals to overcome egoism, act more ethically, and engage more fully with life. By shedding the confines of self-identity, we can escape isolation and participate more meaningfully in the shared experience of existence. Ultimately, the text encourages readers to recognize that losing the self can lead to profound gains in personal and communal well-being.
The Buddhist philosophical tradition is vast and diverse, encompassing texts in various canonical languages. This complexity can make it challenging for those trained in Western philosophy to approach it for the first time, as well as for educators seeking suitable textbooks that represent the tradition's diversity, provide reliable translations of primary texts, and highlight key philosophical issues. This volume addresses that gap by compiling significant philosophical texts from each major Buddhist tradition, with each text translated and introduced by an authority in Buddhist studies. The introductions contextualize the texts and outline the philosophical issues and arguments they present, serving as a valuable guide for readers and instructors. The volume is organized into topical sections that align with Western philosophical structures, each prefaced by an essay that explains Buddhist perspectives on the subject matter and the relevance of the included texts. This collection is ideal for intermediate or advanced courses in Buddhist philosophy, making the tradition accessible to those familiar with Western philosophy. It also serves scholars and students of Buddhist studies interested in the philosophical aspects of the tradition.
