The Collected Writings of Jaysankar Lal Shaw: Indian Analytic and Anglophone Philosophy

(Hardback)

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One of the first philosophers to relate Indian philosophical thought to Western analytic philosophy, Jaysankar Lal Shaw has been reflecting on analytic themes from Indian philosophy for over 40 years. This collection of his most important writings, introduces his work and presents new ways of using Indian classical thought to approach and understand Western philosophy. By expanding, reinterpreting and reclassifying concepts and views of Indian philosophers, Shaw applies them to the main issues and theories discussed in contemporary philosophy of language and epistemology. Carefully constructed, this volume of his collected writings, shows the parallels Shaw draws between core topics in both traditions, such as proper names, definite descriptions, meaning of a sentence, knowledge, doubt, inference and testimony. It captures how Shaw uses the techniques and concepts of Indian philosophers, especially the followers of the Navya-Nyaya, to address global problems like false belief, higher order knowledge and extraordinary perception. Exploring timeless ideas from Indian thought alongside major issues in contemporary philosophy, Shaw reveals how the two traditions can interact and throw light on each other, providing better solutions to philosophical problems. He has also reflected on modern issues such as freedom, morality and harmony from the classical Indian thought. Featuring a glossary and updates to his writings,The Collected Writings of Jaysankar Lal Shaw: Indian Analytic and Anglophone Philosophy also includes new work by Shaw on the relationship between Indian and analytic philosophy today.

Reviews

Shaw's work at the borders of Anglo-Analytic and Indian-Analytic philosophy is extremely engaging and it truly demonstrates how Indian philosophy can be a part of the contemporary world philosophy and comparative philosophy milieu [this book] provides a bridge between contemporary research in analytic philosophy and classical Indian philosophy across a number of core areas. One can be assured that studying his work will lead to gaining insights and making connections between traditions of philosophy. Thus, this is an important publication for philosophers of whatever orientation. * Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
There has never been anyone who has done more to focus Western philosophers on the significance of Indian analytical philosophy, in particular, philosophical logic and the philosophy of language, than Professor Jay Shaw. Im delighted that finally there is a single volume that brings all of these exciting and creative papers together. -- Ernie Lepore, Board of Governors Professor of Philosophy and Acting-Co-Director of Cognitive Science, University of Rutgers, USA
Jay Shaw is greatly accomplished at demonstrating deep knowledge of not only one, but multiple philosophical traditions, using one to illuminate issues raised in another. By juxtaposing linguistic aspects of Nyaya with the philosophy of language in analytic philosophy, for example, he provides new comparative insights which are likely to come as a surprise to many analytic philosophers. -- David Lumsden, Research Associate in Philosophy, University of Waikato, New Zealand
Dr. Jaysankar Lal Shaw is one of the most significant stalwarts of Indian and comparative philosophy in the contemporary analytical context. Grappling with the interstices of Indian and contemporary (Western) analytical thinking in an inimitable way, each of Shaws essays shows the gift of fruitful dialogue and conversation between (seemingly) disparate traditions of thought, demonstrating his enormous influence across various sub-fields of philosophy. -- Purushottama Bilimoria, editor-in-chief of 'Sophia, International Journal of Philosophy and Traditions'

Author Bio

Jaysankar Lal Shaw is Associate Professor in the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science & International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has taught at Jadavpur University, Calcutta, at the University of Alabama, USA, and the University of Hawaii, USA. Together with B.K. Matilal, he co-edited Analytical Philosophy in Comparative Perspective (1985).