According to bernstein, at the time of his death, mcevilley was at work on a study of the greek anthology. Thomas mcevilley, 73, critic and scholar of nonwestern. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies at. Mcevilleys book offers several interesting connections between specific schools and tenets of greek philosophy and their asian counterparts. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies author. 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. In search of the cradle of civilization book by georg. Although some of the parallels require more evidence to be wholly convincing, the scholars arguments paint a convincing picture of an ancient world shaped by mutual influence between neighbors. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Mcevilley this unparalleled study of early eastern and western philosophy challenges every existing belief about the foundations of western civilization. And for a more balanced discussion, read edwin bryant s indoaryan controversy. They argue that comparative study is not just a matter of recording interesting parallels but that such study is indeed. The culmination of a long career, the shape of ancient thought, is a stunning work. The ethics of imperturbability the denver philosophy.
Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, in 2001, and a second one, sappho, in 2008. Thomas mcevilley author of the shape of ancient thought. The title of this book is the shape of ancient thought and it was written by thomas c. Tom mcevilleys book the shape of ancient thought offers a historical perspective of the interconnections between the ancient greek and indian philosophical traditions now, as to your more specific question. Delhis gallery espace morphs into a miniature studio with. In addition to yumchoumein s books, thomas mcevilley s the shape of ancient thought addresses at least your related question. The philosophical center of mcevilleys work is clearly the greek philosophical tradition, whether in his art criticism or in the shape of ancient thought 2002. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Nov 01, 2001 the culmination of a long career, the shape of ancient thought, is a stunning work. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. 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. The mutual dilemma of west and east ive been a fan of arthur koestler s writings for many years, but for some inexplicable reason had omitted to read the lotus and the robot, his exploration of indian and japanese religious ideas and practices published in 1960. In the shape of ancient thought, mcevilley explores the foundations of western civilization. Those years of saying everything else, art, culture, poiesis, and all the while he was making his masterpiece, the shape of ancient thought, that showed so clearly that we get what we think from the same place we get language, the breath of the other. An avid reader interested in philosophy and the arts, kiefer has created numerous artist books and photographs inspired by critic thomas mcevilleys 2001 book the shape of ancient thought. Mcevilley 2002 a brief critique of thomas mceviolleys magnum opus. He shows how trade, imperialism and currents of migration allowed cultural philosophies. Upanishads and greek thinkers on pancha bhootas or. While vedanta is strong idealism the world is illusion i think modern buddhism will say the world is like an illusion wrt its impermanent, constantly changing aspect i. In other words, it is a book which clearly demonstrates that much of what we have been taught about ancient india and which our highly paid.
The book is a detailed 656 pages comparative study of greek and indian religious and philosophical thought. Since it also includes a bibliography of alkashanis known works, this book will be an invaluable addition to our knowledge of islamic philosophers. 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. A work of such scope is a long and difficult read to be sure.
Mcevilley also published two monumental philological studies that bear directly on the arimaspia. Art criticism that made a difference the brooklyn rail. Massive similarities exist between ancient greek and ancient indian philosophy, and a massive study such as thomas mcevilleys was needed to assemble the materials and grapple with them. Dec 27, 2008 thomas mcevilleys book, the shape of ancient thought makes a brave attempt to slice the cake differently. New rational and scientific research, however, is bringing out the truth everyday. Celebrating the life and work of thomas mcevilley 193920 and the publication of his new books the arimaspia. Rigveda and avesta the final evidence, srikant g talageri. He lived in new york city and the lower hudson valley. The motives and methods of the indian schools, and the theological and mystical background of their thought, are so utterly different from those of the greeks that there is little profit in comparison. The shape of ancient thought, comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies 2002 see other formats. Spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proved what many scholars could not explain. Among recent western scholars the pride of place must belong to wilhelm halbfass 1988, and thomas mcevilley s 2002 encyclopedic tome commands a justifiable claim to be a worthy successor. The mutual dilemma of west and east ive been a fan of arthur koestlers writings for many years, but for some inexplicable reason had omitted to read the lotus and the robot, his exploration of indian and japanese religious ideas and practices published in 1960.
With the skeptics and the shunyavadins, according to mcevilley, there is an insistent tendency to breach the law of the excluded middle p. Early buddhist history and the underpinnings of zen. Thomas mcevilley has 57 books on goodreads with 3925 ratings. Id also suggest that the art of gandhara shows a definite mingling between greek and indian philosophies but this is after alexanders empire building. When invited to give a lecture on world art history, i plunked down his masterpiece, the shape of ancient thought. 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 mcevilleys most popular book is the shape of ancient thought. Tom mcevilleys book the shape of ancient thought offers a historical perspective of the interconnections between the ancient greek and indian philosophical traditions. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies thomas c. Id also suggest that the art of gandhara shows a definite mingling between greek and indian philosophies but this is after alexanders empire building another possible line of attack is through religous texts. In his book sculpture in an age of doubt 1999, mcevilley repeatedly refers to pyrrhon of ells ca. Mcevilley, who is a sanskrit scholar provides some evidence in his book the shape of ancient thought.
Thomas mcevilley explores how trade, imperialism, and migration currents allowed cultural philosophies to intermingle freely throughout india, egypt, greece, and the ancient near east. 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. At his death, he was working on a book about greek poetry. Obviously, information about eastern influences on presocratic thought is less abundant than eastern influences on postsocratic. 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. This is a theme found in much of toms work, but nowhere is it. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies 1st by mcevilley, thomas c. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, thomas mcevilley. 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. 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. Ancient thought, is his focus, which makes more sense than the spurious concepts of east and west not least because the limits of ancient are obviously. Of the two important moments of diffusion across greek and indian philosophies sketched out in the book, what i have just briefly described points to a diffusion of methods. How to combine eastern and western philosophy fourcultures. Bruce mcpherson read robert kellys tribute to thomas mcevilley.
Thomas mcevilleys book, the shape of ancient thought makes a brave attempt to slice the cake differently. Upanishads and greek thinkers on elements or first. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, a monumental and celebrated tome which suggests that, due to migrations and trade, western culture was. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies. Ancientrootsofholisticeducation university of toronto t. The shape of ancient thought by thomas mcevilley spanning thirty years of intensive research, this book proves what many scholars could not explain. Pdf brief critique of thomas mcevilleys work the shape. Jun 22, 20 toms thinking combined great scholarship with wonderful esoterica. Toms thinking combined great scholarship with wonderful esoterica. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies allworth, 2001. Thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought does an excellent comparative analysis of greek and indian philosophy 6, stressing how there existed much interaction between the two cultural areas in very early times, but he. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies on the podium.
Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies, 2001, and sappho, 2008. 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. Thomas mcevilley, the shape of ancient thought, pp. Mcevilleys evisceration of a museum of modern art show on primitivism in 1984 put curators on the defensive and changed the debate about multiculturalism in art. Thomas mcevilley on the shape of ancient thought youtube. In the book sculpture in the age of doubt 1999, mcevilley analyzes the intellectual issues surrounding the postmodern movement in the course of 20thcentury sculpture. He also wrote extensively on western contemporary artists. It was published by allworth and has a total of 768 pages in the book. Yet, this book does not demonstrate the scholarly gravitas which is the hallmark of halbfass succinct but magisterial india and europe, although both books share the same shortcomings.
He wrote many books on art and classical philology including the shape of ancient thought, sappho and three novels. In addition to yumchoumeins books, thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought addresses at least your related question. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the shape of ancient thought. Kamath builds his show at gallery espace, delhi on thomas mcevilleys the shape of ancient thought. July, 1939 march 2, 20 was an american art critic, poet, novelist, and scholar. The shape of ancient thought download ebook pdf, epub. This groundbreaking reference will stir relentless debate among philosophers, art historians, and students. Thomas mcevilley is the author of the shape of ancient thought 4. Robert kelly and bruce mcpherson on thomas mcevilley jacket2. Thomas mcevilley 2002 begins his book with a quotation by guthrie 1962, 81. Mcevilley explores the foundations of western civilization. Thomas mcevilley, the shape of ancient thought new york. The correspondence between the two schools in gone over in thomas mcevilleys book, the shape of ancient thought. Here we have a book that is clearly written with love and devotion.
Mcevilley was a scholar, poet, novelist, art historian, critic, and translator best known as a provocative and influential art critic. Internationally renowned art critic, thomas mcevilley, dead. In search of the cradle of civilization book by georg feuerstein. If you havent already, check out mcevilleys book, the shape of ancient thought.
Whats the current thinking about eastern influence on pre. Comparative studies in greek and indian philosophies kindle edition by mcevilley, thomas c download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The shape of ancient thought book by thomas mcevilley. But by 2006, when mcevilley was chair of the program devoted to art writing at the school of visual arts, i was prepared. Books by thomas mcevilley author of the shape of ancient. Instead of eastern and western, he opts for a timebased distinction. Wisdom of the lands of mount olympus and mount kailasa. Mar 02, 2014 mcevilley also published two monumental philological studies that bear directly on the arimaspia. Click download or read online button to get the shape of ancient thought book now. Obviously, information about eastern influences on presocratic thought is less abundant than eastern influences on postsocratic thought not that information on the latter is abundant. The silence of the south and the absence of political. He argues that todays western world must be considered the product of both greek and indian thought, both western philosophy and eastern philosophies. Internationally renowned art critic, thomas mcevilley. The second concerns a diffusion of contents, and it dates back to the presocratic period.