Twelve Examples of Illusion. By Jan Westerhoff. Oxford University Press, September 30, 2010. 208 pages. ISBN-10: 019538735X ISBN-13: 978-0195387353
摘要
Westerhoff's book is a pleasing, readable introduction to research into the illusory nature of human experience, presented as a commentary on one Tibetan verse. Each of twelve chapters addresses one of twelve kinds of illusions standard in Buddhist literature (dreams, mirages, echoes, etc.), illuminated by excurses into contemporary philosophy, cognitive science, and various other disciplines. This research provides new ways that well‐known analogies may elucidate Buddhist concepts. For example, the illusion of the bubble is explained through the theory of the “hedonic treadmill,” according to which happiness is experienced as relative to expectations. This, in turn, helps to explain why feelings may be said to be “insubstantial” like bubbles (as the Phena Sutta says). As in each case, the choice of this particular exposition is clever and incisive, though not by any means the only available option. Westerhoff ends the work with an illusory “book review” of the previous chapters, written by a critic who complains about some of “Westerhoff's” claims, and proposes an alternative interpretation of the nature of “substance.” This “review's” well‐taken points provide a lesson on the illusory and insubstantial nature of the person of “the author.” Yet unreal though he may be from a Buddhist perspective, Westerhoff has shown the philosophical value of taking Buddhist illusion‐talk seriously. The work will be of use for specialists and teachers of Buddhist thought, and appealing for general readers.
