An Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy (Cambridge Introductions to Philosophy) by Stephen J. Laumakis (PDF)

Description

In this clearly written undergraduate textbook, Stephen Laumakis explains the origin and development of Buddhist ideas and concepts, focusing on the philosophical ideas and arguments presented and defended by selected thinkers and sutras from various traditions. He starts with a sketch of the Buddha and the Dharma, and highlights the origins of Buddhism in India. He then considers specific details of the Dharma with special attention to Buddhist metaphysics and epistemology, and examines the development of Buddhism in China, Japan, and Tibet, concluding with the ideas of the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. In each chapter he includes explanations of key terms and teachings, excerpts from primary source materials, and presentations of the arguments for each position. His book will be an invaluable guide for all who are interested in this rich and vibrant philosophy.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Much Buddhist thinking deals with topics that Westerners would categorize under philosophy. Having read a number of books on Buddhism from other perspectives, I wanted a book that described Buddhism from the perspective of Western philosophy. Being a Westerner myself, I thought it might make some Buddhist concepts easier to understand: it did.Laumakis assumes an elementary background in Western philosophy: he expects you to know what “numerically identical” and “ontological” mean, for example. However, even if you have no background whatever, the book will be perfectly intelligible with a little cogitation. By the same token, if you do have some background in philosophy, Laumakis’s treatment may seem a bit elementary (which is not the same thing as shallow). It is and holds itself out to be an introductory text.While Laumakis does not shove his opinions down the reader’s throat, he clearly believes that many tenets of Buddhism are simply correct. He covers Theravada Buddhism (Sri Lanka, SE Asia), Mahayana Buddhism (China, Japan), Tibetan Buddhism, and the modern Buddhism of the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. He seems most in tune with Theravada Buddhism.I don’t think you should try to understand Buddhism just by reading books; you should do some meditation. And some Buddhists think books are useless or even counterproductive for getting to where Buddhism can take you. But if you think books can be helpful, this is an quite a good one.

⭐”An Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy” is a good introduction to Buddhist epistemology and metaphysics. The writing is clear, the glossary is excellent, and there are many quotes from key Suttas. Most importantly, the author does a good job of unpacking the Buddhist belief that proper mindfulness enables us to see reality for what it is: a flux of conditioned, transient processes or events. I liked the book. Undergraduates will get a lot out of it.That said, I couldn’t give it five stars. For one thing, it treats Buddhist ethics and philosophy of mind only in passing, which is a huge (and bizarre) omission. For another, the philosophy often takes a back seat to a rather superficial cultural history of Buddhism’s rise in India and subsequent spread to China and Tibet. Finally, the book only skims the surface of Buddhist philosophy, rarely delving into the details of arguments or considering contrary views.Readers looking for a more rigorous yet still introductory treatment of Buddhist philosophy might want to read Christopher Gowans’ “The Philosophy of the Buddha” (a six-star book) instead of this one.

⭐I found many points of assistance for my assignments. The differences of thought between major schools are well expressed yet never dismiss the expectation that the student must think deeply in order to explore and understand the issues,

⭐A very good book for people who want to know about buddhism

⭐Basic fundamental philosophy about Buddhism.

⭐Used this for Philosophy class and it was very helpful!

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