Overview
ON SHANKARA, like other titles in the Wadsworth Philosopher's Series, offers a concise, yet comprehensive, introduction to this philosopher's most important ideas. Presenting the most important insights of well over a hundred seminal philosophers in both the Eastern and Western traditions, the Wadsworth Philosophers Series contains volumes written by scholars noted for their excellence in teaching and for their well-versed comprehension of each featured philosopher's major works and contributions. These titles have proven valuable in a number of ways. Serving as standalone texts when tackling a philosophers' original sources or as helpful resources for focusing philosophy students' engagements with these philosopher's often conceptually daunting works, these titles have also gained extraordinary popularity with a lay readership and quite often serve as "refreshers" for philosophy instructors.
Synopsis
The philosophy of this eighth-century Indian thinker (he's integral to the Vedanta school of thought) is described for the beginning philosophy student by Cronk (Bergen Community College, New Jersey). Shankara's life, early influences, philosophy of non-dualism, and critical reception— particularly by Ramanuja—are discussed. There is a list of references but no index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR