Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto

American colleges and universities are failing their students by refusing to teach the philosophical traditions of China, India, Africa, and other non-Western cultures, according to Bryan W. Van Norden's book "Taking Back Philosophy." He argues that academic philosophy is Eurocentric, insular, and complicit with nationalism and calls for an inclusive, multicultural approach to philosophical inquiry. The book showcases how Western and Asian thinkers can be brought into productive dialogue and demonstrates that philosophy only becomes deeper as it becomes more diverse and pluralistic. It is a manifesto for multicultural education, an accessible introduction to Confucian and Buddhist philosophy, a critique of contemporary American politics, a defense of the value of philosophy and a liberal arts education, and a call to return to the search for the good life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2017
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Are American colleges and universities failing their students by refusing to teach the philosophical traditions of China, India, Africa, and other non-Western cultures? This biting and provocative critique of American higher education says yes. Even though we live in an increasingly multicultural world, most philosophy departments stubbornly insist that only Western philosophy is real philosophy and denigrate everything outside the European canon. In Taking Back Philosophy, Bryan W. Van Norden lambastes academic philosophy for its Eurocentrism, insularity, and complicity with nationalism and issues a ringing call to make our educational institutions live up to their cosmopolitan ideals. In a cheeky, agenda-setting, and controversial style, Van Norden, an expert in Chinese philosophy, proposes an inclusive, multicultural approach to philosophical inquiry. He showcases several accessible examples of how Western and Asian thinkers can be brought into productive dialogue, demonstrating that philosophy only becomes deeper as it becomes increasingly diverse and pluralistic. Taking Back Philosophy is at once a manifesto for multicultural education, an accessible introduction to Confucian and Buddhist philosophy, a critique of the ethnocentrism and anti-intellectualism characteristic of much contemporary American politics, a defense of the value of philosophy and a liberal arts education, and a call to return to the search for the good life that defined philosophy for Confucius, Socrates, and the Buddha. Building on a popular New York Times opinion piece that suggested any philosophy department that fails to teach non-Western philosophy should be renamed a Department of European and American Philosophy, this book will challenge any student or scholar of philosophy to reconsider what constitutes philosophy and what it means to be a philosopher.

Are American colleges and universities failing their students by refusing to teach the philosophical traditions of China, India, Africa, and other non-Western cultures? This biting and provocative critique of American higher education says yes. Even though we live in an increasingly multicultural world, most philosophy departments stubbornly insist that only Western philosophy is real philosophy and denigrate everything outside the European canon. In Taking Back Philosophy, Bryan W. Van Norden lambastes academic philosophy for its Eurocentrism, insularity, and complicity with nationalism and issues a ringing call to make our educational institutions live up to their cosmopolitan ideals. In a cheeky, agenda-setting, and controversial style, Van Norden, an expert in Chinese philosophy, proposes an inclusive, multicultural approach to philosophical inquiry. He showcases several accessible examples of how Western and Asian thinkers can be brought into productive dialogue, demonstrating that philosophy only becomes deeper as it becomes increasingly diverse and pluralistic. Taking Back Philosophy is at once a manifesto for multicultural education, an accessible introduction to Confucian and Buddhist philosophy, a critique of the ethnocentrism and anti-intellectualism characteristic of much contemporary American politics, a defense of the value of philosophy and a liberal arts education, and a call to return to the search for the good life that defined philosophy for Confucius, Socrates, and the Buddha. Building on a popular New York Times opinion piece that suggested any philosophy department that fails to teach non-Western philosophy should be renamed a Department of European and American Philosophy, this book will challenge any student or scholar of philosophy to reconsider what constitutes philosophy and what it means to be a philosopher.

Weight: 306g
Dimension: 141 x 217 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231184373