Methodologies of Comparative Philosophy

The field of comparative philosophy can be understood as both the comparison of philosophies and as philosophical reflection on the nature of comparison itself. It is the latter upon which Smid (philosophy and religion, Curry College) focuses here, aiming to contribute to the development of the philosophy of comparison through a comparative examination of four different methodologies of comparison. These methodologies are those of leading philosophical comparativists in the American pragmatist and process philosophical traditions: William Ernest Hocking, F.S.C. Northrop, David Hall and Roger Ames (in collaboration), and Robert Cummings Neville (and the Comparative Religious Ideas Project). He explains the methodologies, critically assesses each with respect to strengths and weaknesses, and considers the implications for the nature of the philosophy of comparison. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Robert W. Smid is Senior Lecturer of Philosophy and Religion at Curry College.