The Oneness Hypothesis

The Oneness Hypothesis

Beyond the Boundary of Self

With contributions by: Donald L. M. Baxter, Lawrence Blum, Stephen R. L. Clark, Bradford Cokelet, Jay L. Garfield, Victoria Harrison, Kendy M. Hess, Cho Geung Ho, Tao Jiang, Eva Feder Kittay, Shaun Nichols, Dimitri Putilin, Michael R. Slater, Nina Strohminger, William B. Swann, Sanaz Talaifar, Justin Tiwald and Mark Unno
Edited by: Philip Ivanhoe, Owen Flanagan, Victoria Harrison, Eric Schwitzgebel and Hagop Sarkissian

Columbia University Press | 2018

https://doi.org/10.7312/ivan18298

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Contents

About this book

The idea that the self is inextricably intertwined with the rest of the world—the “oneness hypothesis”—can be found in many of the world’s philosophical and religious traditions. This anthology explores the oneness hypothesis through East Asian and Western thought as well as sociology, evolutionary theory, and cognitive neuroscience.

Author information

Philip J. Ivanhoe is Chair Professor of East Asian and Comparative Philosophy and Religion and director of the Center for East Asian and Comparative Philosophy at City University of Hong Kong.

Owen J. Flanagan is James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy and codirector of the Center for Comparative Philosophy at Duke University, where he also holds appointments in psychology and neuroscience.

Victoria S. Harrison is professor of philosophy at the University of Macau.

Hagop Sarkissian is associate professor in the Department of Philosophy at the City University of New York, Baruch College, and the CUNY Graduate Center.

Eric Schwitzgebel is professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside.

Reviews

Ara Norenzayan, professor of psychology and director of the Centre for Human Evolution, Cognition, and Culture, University of British Columbia:
The Oneness Hypothesis proposes a fascinating and timely exploration of the idea of oneness from different disciplinary angles, while synthesizing current knowledge and outlining a path forward. The editors of the volume are leading scholars who will have a substantial impact on future conversations and scholarship about this topic.

Sébastien Billioud, professor of anthropology, history, intellectual history, and religions of contemporary China, University Paris Diderot:
Positing that many of the pressing problems of our age are rooted into restrictive views of the boundaries of the self, this fascinating collection of essays provides a wealth of insights about how oneness might—or might not—be relevant today. From history to religion, philosophy (East and West), and psychology, the issue is tackled from a striking variety of different angles. A stimulating and inspiring read.

John Dupré, director of Egenis, professor of philosophy of science, University of Exeter:
Individualism, the assumption that humans are ontologically distinct, fully autonomous, naturally self-interested beings is a foundational philosophical idea of modern Western culture. It is also, arguably, an increasingly disastrous one for the well-being both of the individuals it celebrates and the societies to which they belong. The impressive list of distinguished contributors to this important book show in many different ways that this assumption is highly debatable and culturally contingent. It should be read by anyone interested in the roots of the grave problems currently facing the world.

Lee H. Yearley, Walter Y. Evans-Wentz Professor of Oriental Philosophy, Religions, and Ethics, Stanford University:
A fascinating collection of very diverse pieces on a most important and too often neglected subject. Truly notable for the range of approaches exhibited, the different traditions or cultures treated, and the variety of questions, both theoretical and interpretative, that are examined.

Frontmatter Free access PDF PDF	i
Contents Free access PDF PDF	v
Conventions Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	ix
Introduction Philip J. Ivanhoe, Owen Flanagan, Victoria Harrison, Hagop Sarkissian and Eric Schwitzgebel Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	1
1. Oneness: A Big History Perspective Victoria S. Harrison Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	39
2. Oneness and Its Discontent: Contesting Ren in Classical Chinese Philosophy Tao Jiang Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	53
3. One Alone and Many Stephen R. L. Clark Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	77
4. Oneness, Aspects, and the Neo-Confucians Donald L . M. Baxter Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	90
5. One-to-One Fellow Feeling, Universal Identification and Oneness, and Group Solidarities Lawrence Blum Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	106
6. The Relationality and the Normativity of An Ethic of Care Eva Feder Kittay Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	120
7. Oneness and Narrativity: A Comparative Case Study Mark Unno Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	142
8. Kant, Buddhism, and Self-Centered Vice Bradford Cokelet Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	169
9. Fractured Wholes: Corporate Agents and Their Members Kendy M. Hess Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	192
10. Religious Faith, Self-Unification, and Human Flourishing in James and Dewey Michael R. Slater Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	212
11. The Self and the Ideal Human Being in Eastern and Western Philosophical Traditions: Two Types of “Being a Valuable Person” Cho Geung Ho Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	234
12. Hallucinating Oneness: Is Oneness True or Just a Positive Metaphysical Illusion? Owen Flanagan Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	269
13. Episodic Memory and Oneness Jay Garfield, Shaun Nichols and Nina Strohminger Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	285
14. Confucius and the Superorganism Hagop Sarkissian Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	305
15. Death, Self, and Oneness in the Incomprehensible Zhuangzi Eric Schwitzgebel Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	321
16. Identity Fusion: The Union of Personal and Social Selves Sanaz Talaifar and William B. Swann Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	340
17. Tribalism and Universalism: Reflections and Scientific Evidence Dimitri Putilin Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	351
18. Two Notions of Empathy and Oneness Justin Tiwald Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	371
Contributors Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	389
Index Access restricted Content is available PDF PDF	393

The Oneness Hypothesis

Beyond the Boundary of Self

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