The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy

by Jan Westerhoff
The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Philosophy
Technical
  • ID: 5787
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9780191047046
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
  • Published: 2018-05-12
  • Reviews: 3

Jan Westerhoff delves into the vibrant era of Buddhist philosophy in India, spanning from the composition of the Abhidharma works to the time of Dharmakirti in the sixth century. This period saw the emergence of influential schools such as the Madhyamaka's theory of emptiness, Yogacara idealism, and the logical works of Dinnaga and Dharmakirti, all shaped by the need to interpret canonical texts, defend positions against criticisms, and account for meditative insights./n/nThe book provides a historical and intellectual context for these developments, emphasizing key Buddhist concepts like non-self, suffering, reincarnation, karma, and nirvana. Westerhoff also discusses important thinkers who influenced Buddhist thought up to the decline of Buddhist scholastic philosophy in the thirteenth century, offering a comprehensive understanding of this transformative period.

Reviews
Buddhist Ethics Blog · Douglas L. Berger · 2019-07-05
excellent 4.50

The book is praised for its comprehensive coverage of Indian Buddhist philosophy, making it suitable for both academic and general readers. The reviewer appreciates the depth of analysis and the clarity of presentation.

Douglas L. Berger highlights that this book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in Indian Buddhist philosophy. He commends the author for providing a thorough and accessible overview of the subject, making complex ideas understandable. The reviewer also notes that the book is well-structured and easy to follow, making it suitable for both academic study and personal reading. Overall, Berger finds the book to be an excellent addition to the field of Buddhist studies.

Quick quotes

    Jan Westerhoff unfolds the story of one of the richest episodes in the history of Indian thought, the development of Buddhist philosophy.

    The book is clear and easy to read but presupposes some knowledge of general trends in Indian Buddhist thought in the first millennium CE.

    This book is an ambitious and thorough addition to The Oxford History of Philosophy series.

Waterstones · 2018-06-14
excellent 4.50

The book is described as an ambitious and thorough addition to The Oxford History of Philosophy series. The reviewer appreciates the depth of analysis and the clarity of presentation.

The reviewer at Waterstones highlights that this book is an ambitious and thorough addition to The Oxford History of Philosophy series. They appreciate the author's ability to provide a comprehensive overview of Indian Buddhist philosophy, making complex ideas understandable. The reviewer notes that the book is well-structured and easy to follow, making it suitable for both academic study and personal reading. Overall, they find the book to be an excellent resource for anyone interested in Buddhist studies.

Quick quotes

    Jan Westerhoff's book is an ambitious and thorough addition to The Oxford History of Philosophy series.

    The book is well-structured and easy to follow, making it suitable for both academic study and personal reading.

    The author provides a comprehensive overview of Indian Buddhist philosophy, making complex ideas understandable.

Journal of the American Oriental Society · C Kassor · 2017-11-01
good 4.00

The reviewer finds the book to be a clear and concise survey of Indian Buddhist thought, suitable for graduate-level courses. They appreciate the book's accessibility and the author's ability to make complex ideas understandable.

C Kassor notes that this book is a clear and easy-to-read survey of Indian Buddhist thought within a relatively limited timeframe. They appreciate the author's ability to make complex ideas accessible to a wider audience. The reviewer suggests that the book would be appropriate for a graduate-level course, as it presupposes some knowledge of general trends in Indian Buddhist thought in the first millennium CE. Overall, Kassor finds the book to be a valuable resource for both academic and general readers.

Quick quotes

    As a survey of Indian Buddhist thought within a relatively limited time-frame, this book would be appropriate reading in a graduate-level course.

    The book is clear and easy to read but presupposes some knowledge of general trends in Indian Buddhist thought in the first millennium CE.

    The book is divided into chapters that focus on specific themes and figures, making it easy to follow and understand.

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