Breaks through the cultural barriers between Western, Indian, and Chinese philosophy and demonstrates that despite considerable differences between these three great philosophical traditions, there are fundamental resemblances in their abstract principles.
"Given the current interest in cultural diversity, this book could not have come at a better moment....(Read More)
Amoral Politics
(March 1995)
The Persistent Truth of Machiavellism Ben-Ami Scharfstein - Author
After exploring the theory and practice of politics in ancient China, ancient India, and modern Europe, Scharfstein argues that the justification for deception and force is inseparable from political life and assesses the chances for a better political future.
This is a study of how and why politics is amoral. It deals especially with what the author terms Machiavellism--the disregard of moral scruples for political ends that leads to th...(Read More)
Ineffability
(March 1993)
The Failure of Words in Philosophy and Religion Ben-Ami Scharfstein - Author
"The topic is so extremely significant, yet it is one of those issues that lie so deep and are so fundamental that we rarely pause to consider them because (perhaps) they are the ground on which we stand." -- Robert Campany, Indiana University
Scharfstein describes the extraordinary powers that have been attributed to language everywhere, and then looks at ineffability as it has appeared in the thought of the great philosophical cultures: In...(Read More)