Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China [Paperback]

A.C. Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 1999

"A history of Chinese philosophy in the so-called Axial Period (the period of classical Greek and Indian philosophy), during which time China evolved the characteristic ways of thought that sustained both its empire and its culture for over 2000 years. It is comprehensive, lucid, almost simple in its presentation, yet backed up with incomparable authority amid a well-honed discretion that unerringly picks out the core of any theme. Garlanded with tributes even before publication, it has redrawn the map of its subject and will be the one essential guide for any future exploration. For anyone interested in the affinities between ancient Chinese and modern Western philosophy, there is no better introduction."
—Contemporary Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 502 pages
• Publisher: Open Court (January 8, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812690885
• ISBN-13: 978-0812690880
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 4.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,758 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic study, June 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China (Paperback)

A.C. Graham's Disputers of the Tao became an instant classic when it was published in 1989. Graham was the foremost scholar in his field in his day, and this book is still the standard study of early Chinese philosophy. (My understanding was that this title is out of print, so if it is still available, snatch it up quickly.)

However, the book is becoming more and more out of date with every passing year. This process of obsolescence is not due to any fault in the work itself, but to the continual discovery of new texts that Graham could not have taken into account, and to the improvement in our understanding of the received texts that the new ones have made possible.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to early Chinese thought, December 15, 1999

By 

M. L. Asselin (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China (Paperback)

A. C. Graham's "Disputers of the Tao" is an excellent introduction to pre-Qin philosophical argumentation. I would highly recommend it for personal study; it would serve well as a textbook for an advanced-level seminar in Chinese thought. The chapter on "The Cosmologists" has a thought-provoking response to the oft-debated question of why, after such a promising, world-leading start in science, the Chinese fell behind the West in later centuries of the Common Era. My major criticism of this book is that the editing could have been a lot tighter: there are a number of inelegant and often nearly incomprehensible sentences. Perhaps it was thought to honor Professor Graham by giving him free rein to his personal expression, but if so, that was a mistake. Otherwise, this is a wonderful book.

9 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An awful introduction to philosophical argument in China., February 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Disputers of the Tao: Philosophical Argument in Ancient China (Paperback)

I had high expectations for this book. However it's language and syntax is horrible. The language is heavy, boring and badly written. One should not think that something like this would be given out by any publisher.(Hopefully a better book on philosophical in ancient china will be written soon)
The author also tends to quote throughout an amount of sites, but without any good explanations or lack of any explanations at all this is totally useless. And if you are beginner to philosophical argument in China you are ought to lay of this book. Graham writes about things extremely more heavyily and complex than they really are. So my advice is to searh for another book. You will spare both time, frustration and money.
This book gives the history of China a bad name.