'Glocal Public Philosophy' means a practical philosophy that deals with universal public issues from the particular public world or place where each individual lives and acts. Taking historical changes of the nature of public philosophy, as well as of academic situations from the 19th century onwards into consideration, the author tries to develop this idea in view of contemporary philosophies both in Western countries and in Japan. This book provides, not only new knowledge about modern Japanese public philosophies, but also inspiration for a new role of philosophy for the realization of a more peaceful and just societies. (Series: Philosophy in International Context / Philosophie im internationalen Kontext. Studies / Abhandlungen, Vol. 9) [Subject: Philosophy]

This volume contains fresh scholarly contributions to mark the birth centenary of John Hick, the internationally well-known philosopher of religion, whose works continue to have significant global relevance in today’s religiously diverse and conflict-ridden world. His writings have reset the parameters of religious pluralism. Up till now, Hick’s religious pluralism has been mainly seen in relation to the Western context where Christianity is the predominant religion. This volume includes both Western and non-Western engagement with his thinking in contexts such as Japan, China, Korea, Nigeria, and India, where Christianity is a minority religion with little political power. Its distinctiveness lies in widening the debate on religious pluralism by bringing Hick’s pluralistic hypothesis into a constructive cross-cultural and interreligious conversation with scholars of Hinduism, Jainism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and African traditional religions. In doing so, this collection examines how Hick’s philosophy of religious pluralism has been received, appropriated and appraised by these scholars. It has been appreciated and critiqued in equal measure, and continues to impact on current thinking on religious pluralism. This volume makes a significant contribution to the debate initiated by Hick.

This collection of essays considers fundamental philosophical questions from a variety of perspectives, taking as point of departure the standpoint of Classical German thinkers Kant and Hegel with their focus on epistemic, moral, and aesthetic values as central to achievement of a meaningful human life, both as an individual and in the context of human society and culture, nature, and the universe as a whole. From this vantage point, the relationship of poetry and philosophy comes into play, and central ethical questions are raised regarding the practice of life in relation to human rights and the rights of other species.

Identity is considered prima facie the most important philosophical principle in traditional logic and metaphysics. The reflexive ability of the subject implies that he or she can relate to himself or herself and to others, thus establishing the basis for the formation of individual and social identity. The present essays, which contains papers held at the conference of the "Institut International de Philosophie" at the University of Zadar, in 2007, present a range of positions and arguments regarding the possibilities of philosophical interpretation of identity.

The most significant achievement of 20th century is, probably, the importance ascribed to the idea of human rights. And perhaps the most significant endeavour of the world community in the second half of this century is its attempt to codify these ethical demands in declarations, covenants and similar instruments expected to have universal validity. Yet besides the unscrupulous violence, torture and social injustice, which continue to prevail in our world, we also see gaining more and more ground tendencies to promote demands and practices which constitute unnoticed obstacles to the protection of human rights. Is it not the so-called "herd immunity", as a way to fight against a pandemic, a violation of the right to life? What are our shortcomings? The present volume is an attempt to bring into focus one of these shortcomings: the lack of clear knowledge of what human rights are.

This book offers an innovative view of everyday reality. It clarifies how the spatial dimension of reality, as well as our personal and inter-personal perception and interaction with reality, aggravates human separateness at the expense of human connectedness. It shows how many urgent societal challenges are affected by an imbalance between spatial and the non-spatial aspects, and offers an analysis of the impoverishment of society, both in spatial terms (spatialisation) and in informational terms (digitalisation). Drawing on insights from quantum physics and depth psychology, it proposes an unorthodox view of the potential of humans, and of reality in itself, that was lost in this impoverishment. "I found this book hugely interesting, highly original and very well written. I haven’t come across these ideas presented in quite this way, and so the book could be considered a groundbreaking contribution" Dr Stephan Harding, Resident Ecologist Schumacher College, Author of 'Animate Earth'. "It rarely happens that we are invited by a scholarly text to look at reality in a basically different way than the one we are used to, at least in a way that is seductive and compelling at the same time. But this is precisely what the text of Pieter Brabers has done with me." Dr John Rijsman, Emeritus Professor of Social Psychology, Tilburg University.