| A Philosophy of Emptiness Contributor(s): Watson, Gay (Author) |
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ISBN: 1780232853 ISBN-13: 9781780232850 Publisher: Reaktion Books OUR PRICE: $27.72 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: March 2014 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | Metaphysics |
| Dewey: 111.5 |
| Physical Information: 0.64" H x 4.83" W x 7.88" (0.47 lbs) 206 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: We often view emptiness as a negative condition, a symptom of depression, despair, or grief--an assessment furthered by authors like Franz Kafka or the existentialists, Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Offering an alternative view, A Philosophy of Emptiness reclaims these hollow feelings as a positive and even empowering state, an antidote to the modern obsession with substance and foundation. Digging through early and non-Western philosophy, Gay Watson uncovers a rich history of emptiness. She travels from Buddhism, Taoism, and religious mysticism to the contemporary world of philosophy, science, and art practice. Though most Western philosophies are concerned with substance and foundation, she finds that the twentieth century has seen a resurgence of emptiness and offers reasons why such an apparently unappealing concept has attracted modern musicians, artists, and scientists, as well as preeminent thinkers throughout the ages. Probing the idea of how a life without foundation might be lived--and why a person might choose this path--A Philosophy of Emptiness links these concepts to contemporary ideas of meditation and the mind, presenting a rich and intriguing take on the concept of emptiness and the history of thought. |
Contributor Bio(s): Watson, Gay: - Gay Watson is the author of several books, including A Philosophy of Emptiness, also published by Reaktion Books. She splits her time between the United Kingdom and California. |