The “Anthology of World Philosophy”, published in 1969, consisting of 4 volumes, includes selected works of thinkers who have influenced the development of world philosophy from ancient times to the present day.
"Anthology" gives everyone the opportunity to get acquainted with the masterpieces of thinkers and understand the vast literary heritage.
Thanks to a successful selection of texts, the “Anthology of World Philosophy” gives a complete picture of the various teachings. The convenience of this collection lies in the fact that in a rather small volume the most important ideas of the classics of philosophy are given, so readers can quickly get an idea about a particular author or direction.
The first volume of "Anthology" is devoted to monuments of ancient times and the Middle Ages. Let us consider in more detail the characteristics of the philosophical thought of the Ancient East.
It is believed that philosophy arose at a time when the first states came to replace the primitive communal system.
We can say that the first philosophical traditions take shape in ancient India. The first monuments date back to the beginning of the second millennium BC. Around the same time, the development of philosophy in ancient China and Egypt. As for the latter, here we are only talking about scattered echoes of some knowledge that are not holistic in nature.
The philosophy of ancient India was influenced by the caste structure of society.
It is also important to note that the pre-philosophical knowledge of the Ancient World was mythological in nature. So, in India, the Vedas can be considered the first source of such views. These are collections of texts, including fragments of ancient myths, as well as spells intended for brahmanas (priests).
The Vedas consist of four parts: Atharva Veda - spells, Yajurveda - sacrificial formulas, Samaveda - chants, Rigveda - hymns.
Toward the end of the second millennium BC, the Upanishads appear - philosophical texts that reflect the search for true knowledge. Here the main directions of Indian philosophy are being formed - rebirth, karma and unity of the Atman (World soul) and Brahman. The world soul is an ode to every person. In the Upanishads, the main goal of human life is formulated, which is to liberate the Atman from the outer covers.
From the 6th century BC, there comes a time of classical philosophical systems, which are divided by modern scholars into orthodox teachings based on the Vedas, and unorthodox ones that deny understanding of those as the primary source of knowledge.
The Anthology of World Philosophy considers the Vedas and the Upanishads as sources of ancient knowledge. Here is a modern (mostly materialistic) view of ancient philosophy. For example, it is noted that the philosophers of antiquity to a very small extent identified their works with scientific thought. Such a connection appears only in ancient Greece.
At a later stage in the development of philosophical thought in India, its connection with mathematics can be traced, the development of which has reached a high level here, and surpassed even the achievements of Ancient Greece.
The Anthology of World Philosophy (Volume 1) also examines the philosophical traditions of Ancient China, which can be divided into several periods. First of all, it is protophilosophical, during which such monuments as the “Book of History”, “Book of Changes”, “Book of Songs” were created. The ancient philosophers of China subsequently drew inspiration from these sources.
The second period is called natural philosophical, when an idea is formed that defines Chinese philosophy - the doctrine of yin and yang (the feminine and masculine principles, their unity in the circulation of life force).
The third period is the “Golden Age of Chinese Philosophy”, the formation of most schools, which include Taoism, Confucianism, Moism and others.
The fourth period is marked by a severe crisis. At this time, the spiritual life of China suffered from state control. Many sources were destroyed, philosophers executed.
And finally, the fifth period is characterized by a synthesis of the most important teachings and the emergence of neo-Confucianism.
The first volume of the “Anthology” also presents the monuments of philosophy of Ancient Greece and the Middle Ages.
Despite the fact that the “Anthology of World Philosophy” was published in 1969, it still does not lose its relevance, since the works presented here are truly immortal and will be in demand in any era.
