Pragmatism : a reader

 Pragmatism, which editor Menand says "is an account of the way people think," is the most American contribution to philosophy, albeit, as he explains, one that many think is nearly an antiphilosophy. The foremost pragmatists were and are Americans. The great progenitors were C. S. Peirce and William James. Their immediate followers include the father of progressive education, John Dewey; the jurist Oliver Wendell Holmes; social worker Jane Addams; and the father of social psychology, George Herbert Mead. Contemporary avatars of what can seem a pragmatic revival include critic of philosophy Richard Rorty, philosopher of religion Cornel West, and legal scholar Richard A. Posner. The most important papers by all those and several less generally known figures are the contents of this reader. They aren't easy reading, but Menand's introduction is considerably more accessible; he is to be thanked for it as well as for bringing the most influential pragmatist writings together for those who feel up to their challenges. --Booklist (Check catalog)

Striking a balance : a primer in traditional Asian values

 by Michael Brannigan. Brannigan (College of Saint Rose) draws on various narratives in a discussion of Hindu, Buddhist, Zen Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian ethics, with an emphasis on bridging Western and Eastern understanding of Asian religions and balancing opposites. Hinduism's core teaching is that the true self is one with Brahman; morality consists in the ability to view others as one views oneself. The common ground of Buddhist schools is found in the Four Noble Truths and the Middle Path--also expressed in the ubiquity of suffering and the impermanence of all things, even the permanent self. Buddhist ethics' Eightfold Path is its centerpiece. Zen Buddhism emphasizes the direct experience of satori, or enlightenment, as essential. Taoists hold that breaches in the natural harmony with the Tao, the Way, mean that people must reconnect with their original nature to live in balance with all. Ren, the inner attitude of humaneness or benevolence, is the cornerstone of Confucian values; it is a balance of individual and communal values. Both Huston Smith in The World's Religions (rev. and updated, 1991) and Brannigan affirm the wisdom traditions; Smith explores both Western and Eastern religious thought. Brannigan's style is clear and engaging. Included are questions and philosophical excerpts. --Choice. (Check Catalog)

Amish peace : simple wisdom for a complicated world

 by Suzanne Woods Fisher Suzanne Woods Fisher's interest in the Anabaptist culture can be directly traced to her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Suzanne has contributed to several nonfiction books, is the author of three novels, and lives in California. (Check Catalog)

Pragmatism's advantage : American and European philosophy at the end of the twentieth century

 by Joseph Margolis. This is the third book from Margolis (Temple) providing his assessment of philosophy's problems and prospects, following Reinventing Pragmatism (CH, Oct'03, 41-0859) and The Unraveling of Scientism (CH, May'04, 41-5226). A leading voice for 40 years, Margolis explains how pragmatism works as well as anyone, and he expertly exposes core philosophical issues at the intersections of pragmatism, analytic philosophy, and Continental philosophy. This book describes pragmatism's capacity for translating and bridging intellectual divides, its assistance with naturalism's maturity, its inheritance of moderate Kantian and Hegelian contributions, and its prospects for sustaining cross-tradition conversations. Because Margolis uses a wider backdrop of lingering post-Kantian controversies, he can interpret seemingly unrelated philosophical arguments from different traditions as variations on fundamental themes. All along, Margolis has his own rich and complex pragmatism, and he ably defends its merits, which consist chiefly of avoiding metaphysical dead-ends, synthesizing points that other traditions get right, and supplying leadership on ways to work out some remaining tough problems. Pragmatism, in Margolis's hands, proves to be surprisingly adaptable. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic libraries; lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers.

Frithjof Schuon and the perennial philosophy

 by Harry Oldmeadow. Schuon was one of the leading thinkers connected with the philosophia perennis, which holds that a common teaching and wisdom is at the core of all the world's most well-known religions and mystical traditions. This truth, as Schuon described it, does not belong to any particular system but is shared by all metaphysical systems insofar as they are true. During his long life, Schuon argued for this claim and taught it in a long series of highly influential publications. In the process, he became, along with Rene Guenon, its best-known advocate, attracting students and disciples from around the world. In the present study, Oldmeadow (La Trobe Univ., Australia), after providing a helpful biographical sketch and a discussion of other 20th-century perennialists, offers a comprehensive description and explication of Schuon's basic metaphysical assumptions and the large claims he built on them. Oldmeadow's familiarity with the wide range of Schuon's work and his clear expository style make this a valuable introduction to Schuon's thought. The serious problem he does not address adequately is whether Schuon's position is true or was built on a series of very suspect assumptions. Readers of Schuon will have to make this judgment for themselves. --Choice (Check Catalog)