The Concept of Man: A Study in Comparative Philosophy

Comparative philosophy has become increasingly important for the mutual understanding of world cultures. The conflicts of new ideologies and old ideas, and the disagreements of religion, philosophy and science have generated a new desire to know the nature and destiny of man. The cultures of both East and West have come to realize that their traditional life and thought patterns are not adequate and that each has to learn from the other. In comparative philosophy, it is the comparative study of the concept of man himself with reference to his nature and ideals which is of exceptional value. If philosophies frame an inadequate concept of man and press him into its mould, either he will have to break the mould or the mould will break him. In either case, the result will be human disaster. A full and adequate view of man can be developed from a proper study of the concept of man as found in the different philosophical traditions and by noting the over-emphases and under-emphases on the different aspects of the concept and also the aspects that may be unnoticed in one or more of the traditions. The Concept of Man is and can contribute to such a study. The contributors to The Concept of Man belong to both East and West and are authorities in their respective fields.