Sufism and Taoism: A Comparative Study of Key Philosophical ConceptsUniversity of California Press, 1984 M08 6 - 493 pages In this deeply learned work, Toshihiko Izutsu compares the metaphysical and mystical thought-systems of Sufism and Taoism and discovers that, although historically unrelated, the two share features and patterns which prove fruitful for a transhistorical dialogue. His original and suggestive approach opens new doors in the study of comparative philosophy and mysticism. Izutsu begins with Ibn 'Arabi, analyzing and isolating the major ontological concepts of this most challenging of Islamic thinkers. Then, in the second part of the book, Izutsu turns his attention to an analysis of parallel concepts of two great Taoist thinkers, Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu. Only after laying bare the fundamental structure of each world view does Izutsu embark, in the final section of the book, upon a comparative analysis. Only thus, he argues, can he be sure to avoid easy and superficial comparisons. Izutsu maintains that both the Sufi and Taoist world views are based on two pivots—the Absolute Man and the Perfect Man—with a whole system of oncological thought being developed between these two pivots. Izutsu discusses similarities in these ontological systems and advances the hypothesis that certain patterns of mystical and metaphysical thought may be shared even by systems with no apparent historical connection. This second edition of Sufism and Taoism is the first published in the United States. The original edition, published in English and in Japan, was prized by the few English-speaking scholars who knew of it as a model in the field of comparative philosophy. Making available in English much new material on both sides of its comparison, Sufism and Taoism richly fulfills Izutsu's motivating desire "to open a new vista in the domain of comparative philosophy." |
Contents
Preface by T Izutsu | 1 |
Dream and Reality | 7 |
The Absolute in its Absoluteness | 23 |
The Selfknowledge of Man | 39 |
Metaphysical Unification and Phenomenal | 48 |
Metaphysical Perplexity | 68 |
The Shadow of the Absolute | 89 |
The Divine Names | 99 |
Creation | 197 |
Man as Microcosm | 218 |
Apostle Prophet and Saint | 263 |
I | 287 |
Beyond This and That | 319 |
Against Essentialism | 354 |
VII | 375 |
X | 430 |
Allah and the Lord | 110 |
Ontological Mercy | 116 |
The Water of Life | 141 |
Permanent Archetypes | 159 |
XI | 444 |
Methodological Preliminaries | 469 |
Other editions - View all
Sufism and Taoism: A Comparative Study of Key Philosophical Concepts Toshihiko Izutsu Limited preview - 2016 |
Sufism and Taoism: A Comparative Study of Key Philosophical Concepts Toshihiko Izutsu Limited preview - 1984 |
Sufism and Taoism: A Comparative Study of Key Philosophical Concepts Toshihiko Izutsu No preview available - 1984 |
Common terms and phrases
Abso Absolute according activity actually al-Qashāni Allah Apostle appears Ash'arites aspect Attributes basic becomes called chapter Chuang-tzu concept concrete Confucian Confucius consciousness cosmic creation creatures described determined distinction Divine Names dream Essence essential eternal everything existence experience fact Fuş goes Han Dynasty Heaven and Earth highest himmah human ibid Ibn Arabi imagination individual infinitely inner Islamic kind knower knowledge Kuo Hsiang Lao-tzu latter locus Lord lute manifests means Mercy metaphysical mind mirror Muḥammad Mystery mystical nature Noah Non-Being Non-Doing non-existence object ontological ordinary particular passage peculiar Perfect permanent archetypes phenomenal world philosophical position preparedness present problem Prophet qadar Qoranic verse reality Reason refers relation sacred sense shadow shamanic spiritual stage structure Sufism symbolic tajalli tanzih Tao Te Ching Taoist tashbih taskhir theophany thousand things tion transcends ultimate Unity unveiling vicegerent Virtue walayah whole world word world-view