From Reductionism/Crea

by Herbert V. Günther and Herbert V. Guenther

Book Overview

Writing in the language of the new sciences, Herbert Guenther traces the evolution of Buddhist views on cognition and points to their relevance in the contemporary world. The history of Buddhist thought is a unique example of the interplay between reductionism and creativity, between conservatism and innovation, and it is the author's purpose to examine the interaction between these complementary movements. Of decisive importance in this context is...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 087773450X
• ISBN13: 9780877734505
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: Shambhala Publications
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

the radiance of being, the differing of difference

This is a wonderful book for those who are interested in the struggle between the ontical and the ontological. Dr. Guenther's understanding of Heidegger's Identity as Difference takes us into postmodernism, beyond the "in between" of Identity and Difference in Heidegger who still hints of reification. It is not any easy book to read, anymore than Deleuze is easy to read, however, the entire subject is not easy. This is a brilliant book by a brilliant scholar. Dr. Guenther has an incredible grasp of Heidegger and Husserl, as well as, Tibitan Buddhism. The book looks at ontology and ontical foundations which open and clear a path to the radiance of Being as constitutive difference and univocity. I would suggest that those who read this book also read The Radiance of Being by Dr. Combs and Dr. Guenther. The above work helps articulate and clarify the earlier work. I am grateful to have attended lectures of both Dr. Combs and Dr. Guenther, and their radiant presence is present is their writings, too. Both of these works truly offer the reader a gestalt of grace. Richard B. Hartman

Ways to challenge your thesis supervisors!

This is the book to read for everyone who has to think of the philosophical issues (in science or the humanities) when doing their post graduate theses. Thouogh it deels with Eastern thought, it highlights one of the basic drives in Western thought, reductionism, which freeze-dries (my expression, not Guenther's!) concepts to such an extent that it stultifies thinking and leads the mind astray. Guenther looks at the development of the Indo-Tibetan tradition of Buddhist thought and examines those tendencies which reduces ways of thinking and understanding in misleading ways, and contrary tendencies in this tradition which gave life to recurring concepts.For a start, the Buddhist emphases on the ways we come to know and understand rather than on the Western definntions of a static world give Buddhists an upper hand, but even in this tradition there have been tendencies to reify and concretise. Given that our researchers' starting points are cut-and dried-definitions, which we all know are unsatisfactory, it is useful to have this well-argumented and documented exposition of more creative ways of dealing with concepts.