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- The Importance Of Living
- The Importance of Living
- The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang | Issue 71 | Philosophy Now
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However, he gradually lost his faith and began to reject Christian doctrines. In his theology class, Lin discovered that some theologians question the doctrine of virgin birth, and he was enraged that Chinese believers had to assent categorically to this doctrine before being baptized, even though theologians of the same faith regarded it as an open question. Lin concluded that theologians are the greatest enemies of Christian religion. He could not continue to believe in the doctrines of Original Sin or Redemption.
It was this fear of living without the support of a loving God that caused Lin to hesitate before he finally proclaimed himself a pagan.
The Importance Of Living
As a pagan, Lin found life and belief much simpler. He still believed in God but hesitated to say so for fear of being misunderstood. In From Pagan to Christian , Lin described his return to the religion of his childhood. Common sense and the spirit of reasonableness crushed all theories and dogmas: China, therefore, becomes a land where no one is trying very hard to think and everyone is trying very hard to live.
The Importance of Living
It becomes a land where philosophy itself is a pretty simple and common sense affair that can be as conveniently put into two lines of verse as in a heavy volume. It becomes a land where there is no system of philosophy, broadly speaking, no logic, no metaphysics, no academic jargon; where there is much less academic dogmatism, less intellectual or practical fanaticism, and fewer abstract terms and long words. Chinese philosophy is, consequently, accessible to the average literate person.
In contrast, the trend toward specialization and cutting up of knowledge in Western scholarship has made philosophy a subject that even educated people believe they can do without. Rather than stressing logic, Chinese philosophy stresses common sense and the spirit of reasonableness. Reasonable thinking is humanized thinking, and the reasonable person is the highest type of cultivated human being. Where the logical person is too often self-righteous and therefore inhuman as well as wrong, the reasonable person suspects he or she could be mistaken and is therefore likely to be right.
- J. Le Protocole des Archanges (French Edition);
- In Search of Drawing Pins?
- Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-worship.
Lin rejects the theories of fascism and communism, but he is even more terrified by the fanatical methods that their logical theories inspire. Reviewers in the United States and Europe hailed The Importance of Living as the most useful and impressive revelation of Chinese thought available to the average reader. This volume and the anthologies of Chinese literature and philosophy that Lin compiled— The Wisdom of China and India , The Wisdom of Confucius , The Wisdom of Laotse , and The Importance of Understanding , a translation of selected prose and poetry that served as a companion volume to The Importance of Living —were the major sources of knowledge of Chinese thought for several generations of Americans.
His books began to seem dated, and few teachers cited his work as the first place to send an inquiring student. The work remains a charming, if highly personal, exposition of the ideas of classical Chinese writers, written in an easily accessible prose style. Philosophies Men Live By.
The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang | Issue 71 | Philosophy Now
Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Davidson analyzes The Importance of Living as a work of twentieth century hedonism carrying on the tradition of the Cyrenaics and Epicureans. Republican China , Part 2. Cambridge University Press, This volume is invaluable for understanding what Lin experienced during his years in China. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. Specialty Booksellers Interest-specific online venues will often provide a book buying opportunity.
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International Customers If you are located outside the U. About Product Details The Importance of Living is a wry, witty antidote to the dizzying pace of the modern world. Lin Yutang's prescription is the classic Chinese philosophy of life: Revere inaction as much as action, invoke humor to maintain a healthy attitude, and never forget that there will always be plenty of fools around who are willing-indeed, eager-to be busy, to make themselves useful, and to exercise power while you bask in the simple joy of existence. At a time when we're overwhelmed with wake-up calls, here is a refreshing, playful reminder to savor life's simple pleasures.
- NO!LOVE (American Poetry. Bilingual Text (English-Russian). Book 1).
- Lin Yutang Quotations from The Importance of Living – The Gold Scales!
- The Tournament Rules.
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