{"product_id":"9781350539877","title":"Symbol of Ascent Human Longing and the Quest for Transcendence","description":"\u003ch3\u003eExplorations in Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ch1\u003eSymbol of Ascent\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHuman Longing and the Quest for Transcendence\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eGavin Flood | Kevin Hart | Jeffrey Bloechl\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhilosophy \/ Religious\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTaking a phenomenological approach, Gavin Flood explores the symbol of ascent in Christianity and south Asian religions, and uncovers its significance as a cultural idea that is both transcendent\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e and rooted in the world.   \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThroughout history civilizations have believed there is a spiritual reality beyond this universe and that the purpose of life is to realize this truth. This has been expressed in the symbol of ascent, a metaphoric and artistic representation of a hierarchy of levels through which the soul ascends to a transcendent reality at the peak of the cosmos. This book charts the history of this idea in Christianity and south Asian religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It also examines the wider cultural importance of the symbol through numerous literary case studies, from Dante and Golding to the Upanishads and the poetry of North Indian Saints such as Mirabai and Namdev.    \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOutlining and employing the theology\/phenomenology debate, \u003ci\u003eThe Symbol of Ascent\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003ein Christianity and South Asian Religions\u003c\/i\u003e further asks whether ascent is transcendent or of this world, and moreover whether phenomenology should be concerned with the former. To answer this question it engages numerous interlocutors, including Abhinavagupta, Plato, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche and Brentano, as well as Jane Bennett's new materialism and Françoise d'Eaubonne's ecofeminism. Flood argues ultimately that ascent is at the interface of theology and phenomenology as it contains both a philosophy of the sign and a philosophy of consciousness. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCrossing centuries and continents, this phenomenological study reveals how ascent has been a central theme to understanding human reality, a theme that Flood proposes will continue to be relevant, as post- and trans-human philosophies seek transcendence of the limited human to the unlimited, AI-enhanced one we now know possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eGavin Flood\u003c\/b\u003e is Professor of Hindu Studies and   Comparative Religion at Oxford University, UK. He is also the Piramal Dean of   the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, and a Senior Research Fellow in Campion   Hall, Oxford University, UK.\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10 December 2026\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBloomsbury Academic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9781350539877\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e264\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Bloomsbury Academic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51331921739916,"sku":"9781350539877","price":103.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/getimage_7ccb43f1-195c-4ac3-b78b-7c4e56327dda.jpg?v=1783600206","url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9781350539877","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}