Buddhisms and Deconstructions: (New Frameworks for Continental Philosophy)

Buddhisms and Deconstructions considers the connection between Buddhism and Derridean deconstruction, focusing on the work of Robert Magliola. Fourteen distinguished contributors discuss deconstruction and various Buddhisms—Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese (Chan)—followed by an afterword in which Magliola responds directly to his critics.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction Part 2 Part One: Buddhism and Deconstruction Chapter 3 1. Naming the Unnameable: Dependant Co-arising and Différence Chapter 4 2. Nagarjuna and Deconstruction Part 5 Part Two: Buddhism Deconstructs Chapter 6 3. Derridean and Madhyamika Buddhist Theories of Deconstruction Chapter 7 4. Indra's Postmodern Net Part 8 Part Three: Deconstructing Buddhism Chapter 9 5. Deconstructive and Foundationalist Tendencies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism Chapter 10 6. Ji Zang's Suynata-Speech: Derridean Denegation with Buddhist Negations Part 11 Part Four: Chan/Zen Buddhist Deconstruction Chapter 12 7. The Chan Deconstruction of Buddha Nature Chapter 13 8. Sudao: Repeating the Question in Chan Discourse Part 14 Part Five: Deconstructing Life-Worlds Chapter 15 9. The Veil Rent in Twain: A Buddhist Reading of Robert Magliola's Deconstructive Chiasm Chapter 16 10. emmanuel, robert Part 17 Part Six: Questioning the Self, Questioning the Dialogue Chapter 18 11. Sartre, Phenomenology and the Buddhist No-Self Theory Chapter 19 12. Self and Self Image Chapter 20 13. Zen Flesh, Bones and Blood: Deconstructing Inter-Religious Dialogue Part 21 Afterword Part 22 Selected Bibliography Part 23 Glossary of Chinese Characters Part 24 Credits Part 25 Contributors

About the Author :
Jin Y. Park is assistant professor in the department of philosophy and religion at American University.

Review :
This set of essays crystallizes decades of important developments in the dialogue between Buddhism and post-modern thought, revealing their relevance to each other and to the future of philosophical reflection East and West. These essays seriously engage the philosophical parallels between Buddhism and deconstruction in a manner that is both well-informed and largely free of jargon. In their depth and breadth, they deliver the kind of mutual elucidation that all philosophical dialogue aspires to, without skirting the serious challenges of truly cross-cultural philosophizing. Buddhisms and Deconstructions helps us better appreciate the profound and subtle implications of the Buddhist notions of dependent arising, emptiness and the two truths, by bringing them together with deconstruction to address such problems as self and identity, language, and referentiality. It could serve as an accessible introduction to an often difficult subject.... Buddhisms and Deconstructions provide a number of enjoyable reads....and reveals, with much clarity and depth, a breadth of philosophical insight comparing Buddhist and Derridean thought. The gem of this collection is Magliola's response...more intriguing are his replies, both positive and critical, to other essays in this book. Buddhisms and Deconstructions generously provides us with an intriguing reading in search of a Middle Path that goes beyond all opposition and dualism, envisioning a mutual-enriching dialogue by way of cross-bordering, beyond all limits, categorizations, and self-enclosure. Buddhisms and Deconstructions, edited by Jin Y. Park, contains a number of fascinating articles dealing with a comparison between two systems of thought, one a long-standing tradition from the East and the other a contemporary movement in the West….Park and her colleagues had convincingly demonstrated multiple levels of connection and why deconstructionism works so well in a Buddhist context. Therefore, it is clear that the contributors have gone a long way toward achieving the goal of forcing out of stagnancy and reinvigorating the noble task of linking Buddhism with Western philosophy.