«Anthology of World Philosophy", published in 1969, consisting of 4 volumes, includes selected works of the thinkers who influenced the development of world philosophy from ancient times to the present day.
«Anthology" gives everybody an opportunity to get acquainted with the masterpieces of thinkers and understand the vast literary heritage.
Thanks to successful collection of texts, "Anthology of World Philosophy" gives a complete picture of the various exercises.The convenience of this collection lies in the fact that in a sufficiently small volume are the most important ideas of the classics of philosophy, so readers can in a short time to get an idea about this or that author or direction.
first volume of "Anthology" is devoted to the monuments of ancient times and the Middle Ages.Let us consider the characteristics of the philosophy of the ancient East.
believed that philosophy was born at a time when to replace the primitive communal system came the first state.
can say that the first philosophical traditions formed in ancient India.The first monuments date from the beginning of the second millennium BC.Around the same time there is a development of philosophy in ancient China and Egypt.Regarding the latter, here it is only the scattered echoes some knowledge of a non-holistic.
on the philosophy of ancient India was influenced by the caste structure of society.
also important to note that dofilosofskie knowledge of the ancient world were mythological character.For example, in India, the first source of these views can be considered the Vedas.This is a collection of texts, including fragments of ancient myths and spells designed to Brahmins (priests).
Veda consists of four parts: the Atharva - spells Yajur - sacrificial formulas Samaveda - hymns, the Rig Veda - hymns.
Toward the end of the second millennium BC appear "Upanishads" - philosophical texts, which reflects the search for true knowledge.Here, the basic direction of Indian philosophy - rebirth, karma and the unity of the Self (world soul) and Brahman.World soul - an ode to everyone.In the Upanishads it is stated the main purpose of human life, which is to release the Self from the external coverings.
from the 6th century BC, it is time to classical philosophical systems, which are divided by modern scholars to orthodox teachings, based on the Vedas, and unorthodox, denying the understanding of such knowledge as the primary source.
«Anthology of World Philosophy" examines Vedas and Upanishads as sources of ancient knowledge.There is a modern (mainly materialist) view of the ancient philosophy.For example, it is noted that the philosophers of antiquity to a very small extent identified their labors with scientific thought.This link appears only in ancient Greece.
At a later stage of development of philosophical thought in India traces its connection with mathematics, the development of which has reached a high level here, and even surpassed the achievements of ancient Greece.
«Anthology of World Philosophy" (Volume 1) is also considering the philosophical traditions of ancient China, which can be divided into several periods.First of all, it protofilosofsky during which created such monuments as the "Book of History", "Book of Changes", "Book of Songs".Ancient Chinese philosophers subsequently drew inspiration from these sources.
second period called natural philosophy, when formalized idea of defining the Chinese philosophy - the doctrine of yin and yang (the masculine and feminine, their unity in the cycle of life force).
third period - "The Golden Age of Chinese philosophy" is the formation of the majority of schools, which include Taoism, Confucianism, and other moizm.
fourth period marked by a severe crisis.At this time, the spiritual life of China has suffered from state control.It was destroyed many sources, executed philosophers.
And finally, the fifth period is characterized by a synthesis of the most important doctrines and the emergence of Neo-Confucianism.
In the first volume of "Anthology" presents monuments of the philosophy of ancient Greece and the Middle Ages.
Despite the fact that the "Anthology of World Philosophy" was published in 1969, it did not lose its relevance, and so far as the works presented here are truly immortal and will be claimed in any era.
