Comparative Philosophy and the Philosophy of Scholarship: On the Western Interpretation of Nagarjuna (Hardcover)

by Andrew P. Tuck (Author)

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Product Description
This study in cross-cultural hermeneutics examines the role that modern, Western philosophy has played in the interpretation of Nagarjuna's Madhyamikakarika, a second-century Indian-Buddhist text. Tuck locates a structure of distinct phases or "styles" in modern, philosophical history. These phases, Tuck shows, exhibit discontinuous interpretive biases, as well as continuity of hermeneutic intention. Discovering in each philosophical era a chaacteristic attitude towards the text--whether privilege, objectivity, or neutrality--Tuck argues that the continual reinterpretation of earlier scholarly readings is in fact at the core of fruitful hermeneutic pursuit.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 19, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019506156X
• ISBN-13: 978-0195061567
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,119,524 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book for those studying Nagarjuna, as well as for comparative philosophical endeavors in general, July 25, 2006

By	Jason Mierek "uniqueness is ubiquitous" (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This slim volume comprises an overview of the ways in which Nagarjuna's main text, the Mulamadhyamakakarika, has been interpreted by Western philosophers. Tuck covers the major phases of interpretation, from the earliest period in the 19th century, when Nagarjuna was primarily understood as a mystical Idealist, to the more contemporary reading of Prof. Robert Thurman, who sees Nagarjuna as providing a Wittgensteinian remedy to the linguistic malady we call philosophy.

This book, surprisingly accessible given that its topic is so esoteric and specialized, not only provides a historical overview of how Nagarjua has been understood by his Western readers, but also more generally attempts to provide a theoretical approach to the heremeneutics of comparative philosophy. An excellent and essential read for any students of comparative philosophy and religion.