Intercultural Phenomenology: Playing with Reality

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Intercultural Phenomenology explores the nature of reality by engaging in a cross-cultural dialogue between two of the most influential philosophical traditions of the 20th century. Drawing on ideas from phenomenology, Japanese philosophy and Zen Buddhism, it follows the philosophers who changed their perception of the world by choosing to suspend judgement. Guided by this philosophical method known as the epoch, or suspension of judgment in ancient Greek, it is an introduction to the philosophy and practice of letting objects in the world speak for themselves. Inspired by Nishida Kitaros insight that true reality is beyond the subject-object duality, the book uses a series of examples and exercises to explore the background to Husserls idea of the phenomenological epoch, Hans-Georg Gadamers emphasis on play in human understanding and the haiku poet Matsuo Basho's call for a new level of freedom. This practice-oriented approach moves beyond the traditional East-West divide. It connects various traditions, old and new, contemplative and theoretical, and explains why Japanese philosophy and phenomenology can enrich the quality of our lived experience.

Reviews

This sparkling book is an antidote to technical philosophy closed to non- specialists. Instead of working through abstract ideas detached from ordinary life, its chapters and exercises open fresh access to philosophy that deepens as well as widens a direct and playful engagement with reality. * John C. Maraldo, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of North Florida, USA. *

Author Bio

Yuko Ishihara is Associate Professor at the College of Global Liberal Arts at Ritsumeikan University, Japan. Steven A. Tainer has studied Asian contemplative traditions intensively since 1970 with Tibetan, Chinese and Korean masters. After practicing for decades in both mountain retreats and ordinary life circumstances, he began teaching Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian fundamentals to private groups and at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, Monastery, California, USA.