The Monk and the Philosopher: A Father and Son Discuss the Meaning of Life - Hardcover

Ricard, Matthieu; Revel, Jean-Francois

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805241620 ISBN 13: 9780805241624

Publisher: Schocken Books, 1999

Synopsis

Discuss consciousness, free will, the value of progress, the causes of war, and ways to approach living

About this title

Review:

‘The book skilfully educates readers who might be new to both eastern and western philosophy without alienating those already familiar with either strand. Neatly weaving in details of the father-son relationship, and why and how Matthieu turned to Buddhism, the discussion follows a logical and seamless line through every philosophical and metaphysical aspect of life... A wonderful book.”
Time Out

‘A serious and stimulating book handling some very abstract matter with sympathy and vigour.’
The Sunday Telegraph

From the Back Cover:

EAST MEETS WEST IN A FATHER-SON DIALOGUE

In this most ground-breaking meeting of Western philosophy and Eastern thought, Revel and Ricard explore the most fundamental questions of human existence and the ways in which they are embraced by Eastern and Western thought. They discuss philosophy and spirituality, science and politics, psychology and ethics, and raise the eternal questions: Does life have meaning? What is consciousness? Is man free? Why is there suffering, war, hatred? Their responses are never dry or abstract. They are vital and practical answers that offer revolutionary approaches to how we can enrich our lives.

Revel, a highly influential philosopher and a confirmed agnostic, exposed his son Ricard to all of the tenets of Western philosophers. Ricard went on to distinguish himself with high honours for his PhD in molecular genetics, but then left his high-flying scientific career to study Tibetan Buddhism in India. Twenty-five years later, now a monk, Ricard meets his father for ten days to discuss all the great questions. The resulting conversation is brilliant, accessible, and the most lucid and eloquent meeting of Eastern and Western thought to date.
THE MONK AND THE PHILOSOPHER

About this edition

• Publisher: Schocken Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0805241620
• ISBN 13: 9780805241624
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 310