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Philosophy as Metanoetics (Studies in Japanese Philosophy)
© Chisokudo Publications 2016
Trans. by James Heisig, et. al., revised with a new biographical essay by Takeshi Morisato. Written in the closing months of World War II, Philosophy as Metanoetics seeks to respond to the failure of Japan's philosophical tradition to face up to the political and cultural realities that had landed the country in the war. It calls for nothing less than a complete and radical rethinking of the philosophical task itself. To perform this "absolute critique" of philosophy, while at the same time protecting it from the specter of nihilism, the author embraces what he calls a letting-go of the self's own power so that it can be transformed by the power of absolute nothingness. This is a powerful, original work, showing vast erudition in areas of both Eastern and Western thought.
Also available as an Apple iBook
Trans. by James Heisig, et. al., revised with a new biographical essay by Takeshi Morisato. Written in the closing months of World War II, Philosophy as Metanoetics seeks to respond to the failure of Japan's philosophical tradition to face up to the political and cultural realities that had landed the country in the war. It calls for nothing less than a complete and radical rethinking of the philosophical task itself. To perform this "absolute critique" of philosophy, while at the same time protecting it from the specter of nihilism, the author embraces what he calls a letting-go of the self's own power so that it can be transformed by the power of absolute nothingness. This is a powerful, original work, showing vast erudition in areas of both Eastern and Western thought.
Also available as an Apple iBook
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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February 21, 2022
Truly original work, which deserves a place among the classics of philosophy comparable to Kant's three Critiques, Schelling's work on human freedom, and Adorno's negative dialectics. In addition, Tanabe's work has the potential to broaden the understanding of Buddhism in the West, since Philosophy as Metanoetics has its starting point not in the more famous Buddhist sect, Zen, but rather in the tradition of Pure Land Buddhism. Especially the latter part of the present volume doubles as an introduction to Pure Land Buddhist monk Shinran's thought, who is an important figure in the Pure Land sect.
Contrary to common opinion, I did not find Tanabe's prose to be particularly dense, only demanding, but only as all truly deep and insightful books are demanding. As a reading instruction, I would suggest that the reader gives him or herself wholly to the experience of reading this book, trusting that Tanabe will guide the reader to conclusions and insights. As such, Philosophy as Metanoetics is in itself a wonderful exercise of metanoetics, of zange.
Contrary to common opinion, I did not find Tanabe's prose to be particularly dense, only demanding, but only as all truly deep and insightful books are demanding. As a reading instruction, I would suggest that the reader gives him or herself wholly to the experience of reading this book, trusting that Tanabe will guide the reader to conclusions and insights. As such, Philosophy as Metanoetics is in itself a wonderful exercise of metanoetics, of zange.
Displaying 1 of 1 review