The parthenon is a resplendent marble temple built between 447 and 432 b. A thoroughly comprehensive and utterly fascinating study of this sort is thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought which traces and compares the development of many ideas all across the ancient world. Be the first to ask a question about the shape of ancient thought. Dec 23, 20 18 thoughts on a galiliean shaman speaks his native tongue chris parkerson january 16, 2014 at 11. In the shape of ancient thought, mcevilley explores the foundations of western civilization. In his book the shape of ancient thought, the late scholar thomas mcevilley details astonishing parallels between ancient greek and indian philosophy and spirituality. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies mcevilley, thomas on. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies author. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies. Jan 01, 2006 the shape of ancient thought, thomas mcevilley s magnum opus of over thirty years preparation, draws together an encyclopedic array of texts and archaeological evidence from greece and india, which he employs in clearly written arguments toward an answer to a volatile question. A work of such scope is a long and difficult read to be sure. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies at.
Mcevilley demonstrates that any serious study of ancient philosophy by necessity must include crosscultural fluency and analysis christopher chapple. Mcevillery surveys a magnificent sweep of time and space, from ancient sumer to classical greece and beyond to their roman successors, to the india of harrappa, to buddha, mahavira and nagarjuna. Respecting heavens will was an important element of ancient chinese politics. Five things you thought you knew about the explorer its columbus day a time when faulty lore about the discoverer of america abounds. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, a monumental and celebrated tome which suggests that, due to migrations and trade, western culture was. Why should one engage in nonwestern philosophical ideas. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, the view of rebirth was widespread throughout the whole of antiquity from india to greece, and accepted by pythagoras, who preceded the buddha, and socrates, who was his contemporary. Thomas mcevilley, author of the shape of ancient thought. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies thomas mcevilley on. Firstly, johannes bronkhorsts work on the development of ancient indian thought will be highly relevant, especially his book greater magadha. Mjollnir the paper i attached points out that stupas kurgans.
The shape of ancient thought edit in the shape of ancient thought, mcevilley explores the foundations of western civilization. In the class, he showed a number of silent films that could. Here we have a book that is clearly written with love and devotion. Because this is the literary counterpart to his great work, the shape of ancient thought, it tells of forgotten or effaced encounters between the west and the east, between the self, in other words, and the other. Mcevilley, who is a sanskrit scholar provides some evidence in his book the shape of ancient thought. He was a distinguished lecturer in art history at rice university and founder and former chair of the department of art criticism and writing at the school of visual arts in new york city. Mcevilleys book the shape of ancient thought,2 traces and outlines the pollination of ideas between india and the ancient hellenistic cultures, from earliest known times to modern thought. Mcevilley 2002 a brief critique of thomas mceviolleys magnum opus. You can find a long tour of this process in mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought the kindle edition is cheap. The shape of ancient thought, comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies 2002 see other formats.
Id also suggest that the art of gandhara shows a definite mingling between greek and indian philosophies but this is after alexanders empire building. An avid reader interested in philosophy and the arts, kiefer has created numerous artist books and photographs inspired by critic thomas mcevilley s 2001 book the shape of ancient thought. Jul 30, 2017 certainly, the late thomas mcevilleys great book, the shape of ancient thought, which took him over thirty years to put together demonstrates, adequately, that what we call the west which has been erected on the foundation of the ancient philosophies of greece is quite compatible with indian and buddhist philosophy despite the modern. Again, congratulations, and i look forward to reading the book, even if i was a bit taken aback by the orientation of its rationale. Thomas mcevilley on the shape of ancient thought a revolutionary study by the classical philologist and art historian thomas mcevilley is. Mar 30, 2014 kuzminski gives a survey of possible idea diffusion among greeks and indians. This book brings out the clear indian influence on greek philosophy and neoplatonism. Thomas mcevilley explores how trade, imperialism, and migration currents allowed cultural philosophies to intermingle. This unparalleled study of early eastern and western philosophy challenges every existing belief about the foundations of western civilization. There are, however, many ancient and modem commentators who believe that neoplatonism, upon which mcevilley s thesis depends, is a misrepresentation of platos thought.
Thats an ancient military weapon that looks like a childs jack with sharp points. Grupo publico ancient zoroastrianism and comparative indo. The book s cover image reflects the internal shape of the novel. Thomas mcevilley has given us the novelistic anthropology of our time. The shape of ancient thought by thomas mcevilley, 9781581152036, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. What triggered the philosophical movement in the ancient west. The author has collected an astonishing amount of literature and from the acknowledgments we learn that the book is the result of about thirty years devoted labour. Thomas mcevilley speaks about ancient greek and indian philosophy, and their comingling in his book. Professor christopher chapple, indologist, author of karma and creativity reading it is like reading a novel. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. A galiliean shaman speaks his native tongue earthtribe. I think thomas mcevilley s book the shape of ancient thought may talk about this havent gotten around to reading it.
The culmination of a long career, the shape of ancient thought, is a stunning work. Books by thomas mcevilley author of the shape of ancient. Internationally renowned art critic, thomas mcevilley, dead. Thomas mcevilley explores the key philosophical paradigms of these cultures, such. With the new millennium, mcevilley shifted his focus back to his beloved greek and indian classics, from which he authored the shape of ancient thought. According to bernstein, at the time of his death, mcevilley was at work on a study of the greek anthology. Thomas mcevilleys book the shape of ancient thought reconstructs a thousandyear relationship between greece and india. The shape of ancient thought by thomas mcevilley spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proves what many scholars could not explain. Thomas mcevilleys most popular book is the shape of ancient thought. In fairness to mcevilley it must be said that a central feature of platonism has always been the robust contest between competing interpreta tions of what plato thought.
Thomas mcevilley on the shape of ancient thought youtube. Thomas mcevilley explores how trade, imperialism, and migration currents allowed cultural philosophies to. Spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proves what many scholars could not explain. Take up and read society for us intellectual history. Thomas mcevilley, the shape of ancient thought bibliotheca.
This groundbreaking reference will stir relentless debate among philosophers, art. He argues that todays western world must be considered the product of both greek and indian thought, both western philosophy and eastern philosophies. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies 2002. There is a book by thomas mcevilley called the shape of ancient thought which traces developments in indian and greek philosophy in parallel, and shows many similarities between the views of the greek thinkers and views found in the different upanishads and later indian texts. Aristotelian logic starts with the law of noncontradiction. Thomas mcevilley explores how trade, imperialism, and migration. In both buddhism and pyrrhonism great effort is put forth. If you are interested in the intersection between buddhist and western philosophy, a good place to begin is with mark sideritss book, buddhism as philosophy. We can see even in stone age mythologies efforts to express the general intuition humans have of the unity of the world. Religion and political thought in world history his forthcoming book a world history of ancient political thought also seems very interesting. Kuzminski gives a survey of possible idea diffusion among greeks and indians. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proves what many scholars could not explain. The author has assembled material from the ancient greek world and the world of ancient india and systematically demonstrated the interchange of ideas and mutual influence. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies book online at best prices in india on.
Shop a vast selection of books, art and collectibles from independent sellers around the world. Fascinating stuff i can tell, even though i have only pierced its first chapters and, of course, scanned all chapters. Thomas mcevilley on ancient greek and indian philosophy. As for more provocative examples and of course you might be familiar with these as well, i would recommend richard w. Thomas mcevilley explores how trade, imperialism, and migration currents allowed cultural philosophies to intermingle freely throughout india, egypt, greece, and the ancient near east. Dec 10, 2009 thomas mcevilly has done significant research in this area and documents it in his tome the shape of ancient thought for example, there is significant evidence to show that pythagoras was influenced by hinduism, as all features of his philosophical contributions and beliefs have older precursors in india. Thomas mcevilley has 57 books on goodreads with 3780 ratings.
The 10 ancient classics every student should read the. According to thomas mcevilleys the shape of the ancient world. Hence too, the remarkable findings and discussion in thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought. As students were buried in reading and assignments. The shape of ancient thought, thomas mcevilleys magnum opus of over thirty years preparation, draws together an encyclopedic array of texts and archaeological evidence from greece and india, which he employs in clearly written arguments toward an answer to a volatile question. Thomas mcevilleys book is online youtube interview, thanks to j. The book of revelation was written sometime around. Instead of eastern and western, he opts for a timebased distinction. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies allworth press, 2002. Upanishads and greek thinkers on elements or first. Apr 23, 2011 thomas mcevilley on the shape of ancient thought a revolutionary study by the classical philologist and art historian thomas mcevilley is about to challenge much of academia. Thomas mcevilley is the author of dozens of books and monographs of art history, classical philology, and philosophy including the monumental the shape of ancient thought, and three novels including north of yesterday, published by mcpherson in 1987, he lives in new york city. White is professor of classics and christian origins at the university of texas at austin, and acted as historical consultant for apocalypse. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read.
The similarities in outlook between socrates and plato on the one hand, and upanishadderived beliefs on the other, are far too great to put down to coincidence. Spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proves what. The shape of ancient thought in the shape of ancient thought, mcevilley explores the foundations of western civilization. Plus, free twoday shipping for six months when you sign up for amazon prime for students. Its going to be a while before i get a chance to look at mcevilleys book, does he reference black athena. I got my copy of the life of a galilean shaman last week. In the shape of ancient thought, an empirical study of the roots of western culture, the author argues that eastern and western civilizations have not always had separate, autonomous metaphysical schemes, but have mutually. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. What does the bible say about the shape of the earth. See, for example, thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought. Aug 05, 2018 heraclitus is much influenced by the upanishadic thought, more than any other greek thinkers, and thomas mcevilley in his book, the shape of ancient thought. The shape of ancient thought comparative studies in greek and indian.
And neferkaptah, though he was the son of the king, cared for naught on earth but to read the ancient records, written on papyrus in the house of life or engraved on stone in. Robert kelly and bruce mcpherson on thomas mcevilley jacket2. The shape of ancient thought comparative studies in greek. Pdf brief critique of thomas mcevilleys work the shape. Mcevilley spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proves what many scholars could not explain. July, 1939 march 2, 20 was an american art critic, poet, novelist, and scholar. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies ebook.
Thomas mcevilley, the shape of ancient thought new york. The shape of ancient thought book by thomas mcevilley official. The book is a detailed 656 pages comparative study of greek and indian religious and philosophical thought. The shape of ancient thought, comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies 2002. Thomas mcevilley on the shape of ancient thought a revolutionary study by the classical philologist and art historian thomas mcevilley is about to challenge much of academia. The photographs in this book are really interesting, however there is no contextual essaytexts to articulate any of kiefers motives or links to wider history which really lets this book down which is a great shame, especially considering the. A good, provocative book on the subject is thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought, which looks at the historical connections between the philosophical traditions of the ancient greek and indian worlds, and the background they grew out of. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, proves it at length. Dec 27, 2008 thomas mcevilleys book, the shape of ancient thought makes a brave attempt to slice the cake differently. Spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book. Ancient norse thought postulated a circular flat earth surrounded by a sea inhabited by a giant serpent. This is a theme found in much of tom s work, but nowhere is it more brilliantly and comically exemplified. The shape of ancient thought download ebook pdf, epub.
Upanishads and greek thinkers on pancha bhootas or five. How to combine eastern and western philosophy fourcultures. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the shape of ancient thought. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies ebook written by thomas c. Philosophically this is called monism and all the great religions that develop deep self. But if you want to increase your knowledge, get out your. Student student life books the 10 ancient classics every student should read. I am trying to get a handle on how we are defining.
This is touched on but not at great length in thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies by thomas mcevilley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The shape of ancient thought book published november 1. To simplify a very complex and wellresearched thesis, mcevilley postulates a monism complex that comes up from india, motivates the presocratic greeks to search for unifying principles, and inspires greek mystical. Western science is indeed built upon logic, with the ancient greek philosopher aristotles thoughts on the subject still in many ways at the core of todays system. Tom mcevilley s book the shape of ancient thought offers a historical perspective of the interconnections between the ancient greek and indian philosophical traditions. Jan 31, 2015 the embrace of sophisticated philosophizing within hinduism and buddhism and jainism lacks its counterpart in the abrahamic theistic traditions, plain and simple. Mcevilley argues that there was extensive contact between india and greece in the presocratic period and that ancient indian religious thought was the origin of the otherworldly philosophical themes e. Bulliets the case for islamochristian civilization columbia university press, 2004, and thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought allworth press, 2002, which concerns the evidence for the interchange of.
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