Zen and the Art of Postmodern Philosophy [Paperback]

Carl Olson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0791446549 | ISBN-13: 978-0791446546 | Publication Date: August 24, 2000

This book examines and compares the philosophical positions of various postmodern thinkers and Zen Buddhist philosophers on: language and play; modes of thinking; skepticism and doubt; self and other; time and death; nihilism and metaphysics; and the conception of the end of philosophy. The Zen thinkers dealt with are Dogen and Nishitani, and the Western thinkers are Derrida, Lacan, Heidegger, Lyotard, Foucault, Deleuze and Guatarri, Kristeva, and Levinas. Although each share similar notions concerning the shortcomings of representational thinking, major differences still exist. By clarifying these differences, Olson counters the tendency to overtly assert or covertly imply that postmodern and Zen philosophies are moving in the same direction. Some postmodern thinkers and Zen Buddhist philosophers share common philosophical ground with regard to a mutual philosophical attack and attempt to overcome the perceived shortcomings of the representational mode of thinking that conceives of the mind like a mirror and assumes a correspondence between appearance and reality that is supported by a metaphysical structure.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carl Olson is Professor of Religious Studies at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. His previous books include The Indian Renouncer and Postmodern Poison: A Cross-Cultural Encounter and The Theology and Philosophy of Eliade: A Search for the Centre. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: SUNY Press (August 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791446549
• ISBN-13: 978-0791446546
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,001,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Postmodernism and Zen, November 7, 2000

By 

J. Grupp (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen and the Art of Postmodern Philosophy (Paperback)

This book is not a harsh discourse on deconstructionalism and the radicalism associated often with youthful postmodernism. Rather it is a beautiful discourse on the many parallels of Zen and philosophy in the 1900s. Strongly recommended. Also see Benoit's Zen and the Psychology of Transformation.

5.0 out of 5 stars broad and deep, April 19, 2011

By 

M. Scott (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zen and the Art of Postmodern Philosophy (Paperback)

This was a tough read for me: The author assumes a good level of familiarity with the postmodern philosophers under discussion, so I recommend studying them a bit before jumping into this book or, like me, you will have a tough time comprehending/following about 20 percent of the material. That said, this is a unique work of serious comparative philosophy, one that can be read several times before it really sinks in. I am surprised by how well Dogen holds up against post-modern philosophers...a true testament to the genius and plasticity of the Buddhist tradition. The author does a really fantastic job of setting the Buddhist and post-modern philosophers side by side in dialogue with each other - you'd almost believe they really were.

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book, November 16, 2008

By 

R. R. Ricketts (Italy) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Zen and the Art of Postmodern Philosophy (Paperback)

This book eludicates the thought of Dogen which is often ignored in books on important Buddhist thinkers. This in itself was appreciated but there is much more to be valued in this excellent book on comparative Postmodern thinking and Buddhism.