{"product_id":"the-character-of-the-self-brian-black-9780791470138","title":"The Character of the Self in Ancient India: Priests, Kings, and Women in the Early Upani\u0026#7779;ads","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eExplores the narratives and dialogues of the Upanisads and shows that these literary elements are central to an understanding of Upanishadic philosophy.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis groundbreaking book is an elegant exploration of the Upanisads, often considered the fountainhead of the rich, varied philosophical tradition in India. The Upaniṣads, in addition to their philosophical content, have a number of sections that contain narratives and dialogues-a literary dimension largely ignored by the Indian philosophical tradition, as well as by modern scholars. Brian Black draws attention to these literary elements and demonstrates that they are fundamental to understanding the philosophical claims of the text.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFocusing on the Upanisadic notion of the self (ātman), the book is organized into four main sections that feature a lesson taught by a brahmin teacher to a brahmin student, debates between brahmins, discussions between brahmins and kings, and conversations between brahmins and women. These dialogical situations feature dramatic elements that bring attention to both the participants and the social contexts of Upanisadic philosophy, characterizing philosophy as something achieved through discussion and debate. In addition to making a number of innovative arguments, the author also guides the reader through these profound and engaging texts, offering ways of reading the Upaniṣads that make them more understandable and accessible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Brian Black\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 079147013X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780791470138\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e State University of New York Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/05\/2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 238\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.01lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.17h x 6.30w x 0.80d","brand":"Brian Black","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48441353109759,"sku":"9780791470138","price":99.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_a0d46d0e-4bb3-48be-8fc8-f75bc50f8db0.jpg?v=1777190351","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-character-of-the-self-brian-black-9780791470138","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}