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Lecture 2
Great Religions and Philosophies
Chinese Philosophical Thought
• Sociological and Political
• But also Religious
Confucianism: Confucious
(Master Kung, 551 BC - 479 BC)
Confucianism: The Analects of
Confucius
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The Analects (479-221 BC)
Return to the Zhou
Five Relationships
Chun-Tzu “Son of the Ruler” -- NONMilitary aristocrat, Rule by Virtue
Confucianism: Virtue Over
Rules
• When the stables were burnt down, on returning from
court, Confucius said, "Was anyone hurt?" He did not
ask about the horses.
– Analects X.11, tr. A. Waley
• Confucius and the Golden Rule: "What one does not
wish for oneself, one ought not to do to anyone else; what
one recognises as desirable for oneself, one ought to be
willing to grant to others."
Later Confucianism
• Mencius (370-290 BC) -- Optimistic
• Xunzi (300-237 BC) -- Pessimistic
• Han Dynasty Elevates Confucianism after
209 BC
Other Chinese Thought
• Daoism
– Harmony with Nature
• Legalism
– Humans Are Nasty
– The State of Qin (256-209 BC)
Indian Religion
• Vedic Evolution
– Brahmin / Populace religious split
– Upanishads: 800-500 BC; knowledge is key to
sacred power
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The World is Maya (Illusion)
Life is Samsara (Reincarnation)
Karma guides rebirth (Dharma)
Asceticism and Wisdom = Moksha (Release)
Rebellion against Vedic Faith
• Led by Warriors
• Jainism (Mahavira (540-468 BC)
Siddhartha Guatama, the Buddha
(566 BC-486 BC)
The Middle Path
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Life is Dukkha, Suffering
Desire Leads to Suffering
Kill Desire to escape Suffering
Follow the 8-Fold Path and be
Compassionate
• Avoid Extreme Asceticism
• Goal: Nirvana, Extinction of the Self
Buddhist Popularity
• Guides the Lay and the Monk
• Bypasses the Brahmins
The Religion of Israel
• From Polytheism to Monotheism
• Origins: Abraham, Moses, and Covenant
• Historical Israel (1040 BC - 586 BC, 539
BC-70 AD)
The Prophets
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922-586 BC and beyond
Divine History
Righteous God
Ethical Monotheism
The Messiah
Hebrew Scripture
• The Law / The Torah: Genesis to
Deurteronomy
• The Prophets and the Writings
– The Septuagint -- 3rd to 1st century BC
– Council of Jamnia (circa 90 AD)
Greek Philosophy
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Non-Supernatural Philosophy
Reason and Science
The Sophists
Political and Moral Philosophy
Socrates (469-399 BC)
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Indirectly Known
Teacher of Plato
Skeptical and Rational
Forced Suicide
The Cynics
• Diogenes of Sniope (400-325 BC)
• Anti-Religion
• Satisfy your natural needs simply
Plato (428-348 BC)
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Author of 29 Dialogues
Virtue and Knowledge; Philosopher Rule
Reform of the Polis
Metaphysics
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
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Pupil of Plato
Lyceum (336 BC)
Realm of Forms and Teleology
End of the State is the Good Life of Happy
Moderation
• Practicality and Mixed Constitution