MIDTERM Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is Metaphysics? What are its two primary sub-areas and what are their concerns? What is the relationship of metaphysics to science?
Branch of philosophy that deals with the first principles of things, including abstract concepts (being, knowing, time, identity). Therefore, also deals with nature and structure of universe; “What is reality?”
Subunits are cosmology and ontology
Tries to identify reality, and in turn creation (time and space)
Ontology
Study of nature of being, becoming, existence, or reality, as well as basic categories of being and how they relate to each other.
Investigates what there is
Meta-ontology investigates what we are asking when we ask what there is
We can call metaphysics as ontology, “the study of things,” but poses an issue if we say that phenomena other than tangible things exist.
Cosmology
Studies origin, fundamental structure, nature, and dynamics of universe (ex: concerned with fundamental questions about its formation, evolution, and ultimate fate)
*** Why study Asian philosophies? How is the question of ethnocentricism involved? What are some differences between asian and western philosophical-methodological approaches, generally?
No one else studies them. Philosophy (like many things in society) is predominated by western thought, and so main components of modern philosophical thought comes from it
Western philosophy is also analytical, and dives things up. It is logical based and dualistic – beings/substance, thinking/extended, mind and body, right and wrong, paradoxes can’t exist within each other.
Western philosophy has object dichotomy
Asian philosophy attempts to understand multiple realities
***
What are the most general, primary concerns of asian philosophies?
Hinduism (for example) is categorization of distinct intellectual or philosophical points of view, rather than rigid, common set of beliefs
Major characteristics:
Search for cosmic unity; search for eternal entities (timeless realities); deliverance (elimination of suffering); and ethics
Experiences:
Sorrow (what is suffering?); pain/pleasure (what is happiness?); waking life/dream (what is reality?); personal identity/self (who am I?)
What are the five major historical periods of Indian Philosophy?
Vedic, Epic, Sutra, Scholastic, and Contemporary
Vedic Period
(2500-600 BCE): Characterized by religion, superstition, and philosophy. 4 Vedas formed: Rg, Yajur, Sama, and Atharva. Each veda has four parts: mantra (hymns by poets, descriptions move from polytheism to monotheism to suggestive monism); Brahmana (religious documents made by priests for ritual and sacrifices); Aryanka (meditations for forest dweller who has progressed beyond ritual of householder by philosophers; the transition between Brahmana and Upandishads); and Upandishads (philosophical, abstract created by philosophers –> describes spiritual monism, or the reality which is at heart of universe that is reflected in infinite depths of the self; Brahman, the objective ultimate, is Atman, which is the ultimate discovered by introspection
Epic Period
(600 BCE - 200 BCE)
Traditional texts called Smrti; presented in mythic, non-systematic, and non-technical form.
Four classes of text + tradition:
1. Epics (the Bhadgavad-gita is contained in here)
2. Heterodox Systems (buddhism, jainism, saivism, and vaishnavism)
3. Origin of Doctrines and Philosophies (Skepticism, naturalism, materialism, and orthodox systems)
4. Dharmasastras (Treaties on social and ethical philosophies; code of moral conduct)
Discuss some of the motifs generally characteristic of Indian philosophy in general (ie: theory/practice, the basic aims of human life and how they relate to one another, liberation, unity, karma, rebirth, the subjective/objective split)
Indian philosophies share many concepts such as dharma, karma, samsara, reincarnation, dukkha, renunciation, mediation, etc. with almost all of them focused on ultimate goal of liberation of individual through diverse range of spiritual practices (moksha, nirvana). Differ in assumptions about nature of existence and path to ultimate liberation.
Purusartha: “object of human pursuit” –> key concept in Hinduism, refers to four proper goals or aims of human life: Dharma (righteousness, moral values), Artha (prosperity, economic values), Kama (pleasure, love, psychological values), and Moksha (liberation, spiritual values)
Where does Indian thought place responsibility for human condition? Is idea of karma consistent with human freedom? Why or why not?
Hindu places it in terms of dharma
Buddhism places it in terms of getting out of samsara (wheel of suffering)
Both believe you have your own volition
Where does Indian thought place responsibility for human condition? Is idea of karma consistent with human freedom? Why or why not?
Hindu places it in terms of dharma
Bhagavad-Gita says humans are responsible for their condition, suffering comes from us living for our desires. Our desires come from our ego, and we place ourselves on the wheel of samsara as we try to feed the bottomless pit; liberation = freedom from desire and attachment, don’t be motivated by self-interest but by pure intention to fulfill your duty. Self restraint, mental stability, detachment, renunciation, and absence of desire leads to true enjoyment/end of suffering
Buddhism places it in terms of getting out of samsara (wheel of suffering)
Both believe you have your own volition
What roles does the stages of life and the varnas play in relation to basic aims of life according to Hindus?
Four ashramas (life stages):
1. Brahmacharya (student, 0-24); education and celibacy; lives with Guru (teacher) to learn about science, philosophy, scriptures, and logic, as well as how to live life of Dharma
2. Grihastha (householder, 24-48)
Married life: raising family, educating children, having dharmic social life. Considered as most important stage as we pursue virtuous life while giving back (offspring, fruits of our labor as working people); emphasis on Artha and Kama
3. Vantaprastha (retired, 48-72)
Handing over of household responsibilities to next generation, taking on advisory role and gradually withdrawing from world. Greater emphasis on Moksha
4. Sannyasa (renunciate, 72+)
Renunciation of material desires and prejudices, focus on Moksha; could technically entire this stage after completing first stage
Varnas: Caste system
Brahmins (priests, scholars, teachers)
Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors, administrators)
Vaishyas (agriculturalists and merchants)
Shudras (laborers and service providers)
Ashramas and Varnas play social “division of labor”
What are the major ideas of Vedas? *** Discuss Hymn of cosmic person in relation to origins of existence
Vedas are knowledge
Concepts:
Focus on World (external) and Physicality
Focus on Artha (attachment to status)
Way to perfection (focus on prayer to Gods)
Focus on community rather than individual (Varnas and Ashramas)
Karma not important
Purush Artha –> classes are parts of cosmic body
Cosmic person – universe was created out of body of a single man – representation of the caste systems, the head/mouth is brahmins (priests), warriors was arms, peasant from the thighs, servant from feet
What major concepts are involved in Upandishads? What path must one follow to achieve self realization? What do you think about these ideas? Why?
Concepts:
Focus on the internal (spiritual) world
Focus on moksha (enlightenment)
Way to perfection: Meditation –> knowledge
Focus on the individual
Emphasis on samsara (cycle of death and rebirth)
Karma is VERY important
Following virtuous and enlightened lifestyle as path to moksha
ideas more in-line with Buddhist ideology and detracts from focus on separation (Varnas nd Ashramas)
Path to self-realization: not getting attached to
yourself, desires, ego, worldly materials
What primary ideas are involved in the Bhagavad-Gita? What are the paths to liberation
“Song of God,” Orthodox, Key Vedas text
Life as ethical and moral struggle
There’s no one “right” way to spiritual liberation: focus on harmonizing different ways of life
Focus on spiritual pursuit through action (karma), knowledge (jnana), and devotion, (bhakti)
Synthesis of enlightenment-based renunciation, dharma-based householder life, and devotion based theism
Discuss Nisargardatta’s most fundamental ideas. What role does ‘the nothing’ play in them?
Nondualism
Path of devotion is key
Living life with “harmlessness,” “friendliness,” and “interest,” abiding in “spontaneous awareness” while being conscious of effortless living
Nisarga Yoga: Nonidentification and right understanding Interest and Earnestness Spontaneity and effortlessness Attentiveness to being Right action Going within to go beyond Awareness of self
Nothing: Absence of something universal truth Enlightenment = free from suffering All suffering comes from our presuppositions of reality
Discuss the essential features of Buddha’s philosophy (e.g. the middle temple, the four noble truths, nirvana, etc.) What do you think of Buddha’s proposals? Why?
Atman
No self attachments
Middle-path between universal self and nihlism/no self –> autonomy is your choice
Four noble truths: Life is suffering; suffering is due to desire/greed and cravings; cure is to remove desire; walk eightfold path to do so
Nirvana – not place but state of existence; an experience
Conscious of pleasure and pain but not bound to them
What are the 8-fold path?
Right view or right understanding: insight into true nature of reality
It’s not that we don’t care but know and don’t let it affect you
Right intention: unselfish desire to realize enlightenment
Right speech: speak compassionately
Right action: ethical and compassionate conduct
Right livelihood: living an ethical life and do no harm
Right effort: be wholesome and let go of unwholesome qualities
Right mindfulness: whole body and mind awareness
Right concentration: mediation or similar forms
Nirvana
What did Buddha think of metaphysics? Why?
Antiphysician
Try to avoid metaphysical thought to the point of suffering
There is no avoiding metaphysics, but the point of life is to END SUFFERING
Discuss the roles of anatman, anicca, and independent arising in buddha’s philosophy. What is the ‘self’ according to Buddha? Critically evaluate.
Anatman = “doctrine of no self” (no unchanging, permanent self, soul, or essence)
Annica = everything is impermanent, transient, evanescent
“Dependent origination”/”Independent Arising” – all dharmas (“phenomena”) arise in dependence upon other dharmas “if this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist”
Discuss the roles of anatman, anicca, and independent arising in buddha’s philosophy. What is the ‘self’ according to Buddha? Critically evaluate.
Anatman = “doctrine of no self” (no unchanging, permanent self, soul, or essence)
Annica = everything is impermanent, transient, evanescent
“Dependent origination”/”Independent Arising” – all dharmas (“phenomena”) arise in dependence upon other dharmas “if this exists, that exists; if this ceases to exist, that also ceases to exist”
In buddhism, there’s linear list of twelve elements; it’s interpreted as describing conditional arising of rebirth in samsara, and the dukkha that comes with it
“Self”/Atman
Buddha asserts non-self, rater than Atman self; emphasizes importance of self-reflection and autonomy as means to self-realization
How does the wheel of becoming illustrate the basic principle of the conditionedness of existence?
Helps ordinary people understand samsara thru visual representation
Sutra Period
(200-400 CE)
Period of orderly, systematic, aphoristic, extremely brief and enigmatic texts
Scholastic Period
(400-1100 CE)
Commentaries on sutras (“logic-chopping,” noisy controversy)
Sankara - Advaita Vedanta
