Chinese Philosophies

Question 1

basic notions and principles in philosophy

Answer 1

• ad hominem (attributing things to the nature and character of a person)
• straw-man (weak model of an argument with the purpose of attacking it)
• principle of charity (interpreting and rationalizing an argument to question it)
• appreciative inquiry (learning the strengths and what could be improved in a system of thought)

Question 2

3 key concepts of Chinese philosophy

Answer 2

• mandate of heaven (tianming)
• filial piety (xiào)
• 3 teachings (sanjiao)

Question 3

mandate of heaven

Answer 3

heaven refers to an objective order greater than human reality, gov’t has legitimacy due to the objective super-human universal order, a society loses the mandate when a society breaks down or a catastrophe happens

Question 4

filial piety

Answer 4

one of the most important virtues, deep respect and devotion to ancestors, parents, elders, figures of authority, and state structures

Question 5

3 teachings

Answer 5

Chinese philosophy can be encompassed in the systems of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism; the idea is that each are compatible with e/o and form a harmonious ensemble

Question 6

Yijing (Zhou Yi)

Answer 6

collection of signs and sayings collected in the Zhou period, lines are either broken or unbroken, combinations of trigrams (three symbols) can be doubled into hexagrams (6 symbols), the complete set of 64 hexagrams is called judgements

Question 7

Bagua

Answer 7

made up of 8 trigrams, opposite symbols that contradict e/o, associated with the basic ideas of process and change that cycle continuously, says that reality is made up of processes, rather than substances, that are ordered

Question 8

Confucius

Answer 8

Axial Age thinker, founded an academy, six arts were: music, archery, charioteering, writing, and calculation, all of which were for moral cultivation

Question 9

Lunyu

Answer 9

consists of the 20 Confucian books, written by his disciples

Question 10

key virtues and figures in Confucianism

Answer 10

• ren
• li
• junzi
• self-cultivation

Question 11

Ren

Answer 11

the chief Confucian virtue meaning benevolence or humanity, anti-individualism, Confucian humanism (humans are the centres of ethics and have the most value) and goodness (humans being good to e/o), social virtue (goodness is linked to societal role)

Question 12

Li

Answer 12

proper conduct, rites, ceremonies, ritual propriety

Question 13

Junzi

Answer 13

nobleman, moral exemplar, Confucian answer to virtue ethics’ question of what kind of person to be, achievable and humane, recognizes the value of being a good person, mistakes, and progress

Question 14

Self-cultivation

Answer 14

continuous learning and growing thru self-reflection and patience, in Confucianism, life is about trying to constantly improve

Question 15

The Analects

Answer 15

the application (practice) of knowledge (theory) is necessary to self-cultivation, ren and li are important for gaining a sense of community and respect for other cultures, beliefs, and ideas, social harmony is one of the main goals, the source of badness is not taking the needs of others into consideration and not following social order

Question 16

Yin and Yang

Answer 16

represents continuous flow, balance, synchronicity, sensitivity, yin (black, feminine side), yang (white, masculine side), diagram is known as the taijitu

Question 17

Laozi

Answer 17

the founding and key figure of Daoism

Question 18

Dao de Jing

Answer 18

the main and key Daoist text which highlights the receptive side of reality

Question 19

basic Daoist concepts

Answer 19

• Dao
• nature
• wu-wei
• zhenren

Question 20

Dao

Answer 20

the way/path determined by natural order, goal destination

Question 21

Nature

Answer 21

basic cosmic principle, natural world is structured and has principles, ethics is about finding our place in the larger order of things

Question 22

Wu-wei

Answer 22

non-doing, sometimes, it’s best not to react or do anything and to be flexible, unattached/effortless action (not telling others what to do, not feeling the need to control the process), inexertion (don’t exert yourself more than you need to), values intuition

Question 23

Zhenren

Answer 23

Daoist moral exemplar who is authentic and true to themselves, can be flexible, in touch with the natural order

Question 24

main elements of Daoist approaches

Answer 24

1. use of paradox
2. critique of language and normal rationality
3. centrality of nature
4. critique of (Confucian) humanism
5. cosmic perspective
6. reversal of values
7. non-doing
8. skillfulness (as opposed to effort and attachment)
9. authenticity
10. nourishing life

Question 25

key events in the Buddha’s life

Answer 25

• being exposed to the harsh realities of the world after only experiencing the good and perfect
• meeting the yogis (ascetics who believed that spiritual progress comes from denying the body and pursued salvation and knowledge)
• meditating to fight against the temptations of the enemy (Mara) and his demons in attempts to reach supreme enlightenment
• the 3 evils (greed, hate, ignorance)
• learning how to appreciate the cycle of life and death while also identifying that life is about giving and receiving, not desiring objects or actions

Question 26

three main traditions/divisions in Buddhism

Answer 26

• Theravada (Southern): relies on the oldest layers of texts, most faithful to the Buddha
• Mahayana: refers to the idea that many ppl can achieve Nirvana without passing thru many lives, emphasizes the roles of the Buddhisativa (person on the path to becoming a Buddhi)
• Vajrayana (Tibetan): includes use of mandalas and tantric yoga, Dalai Lama

Question 27

The Four Noble Truths

Answer 27

1. Life is suffering / All this is Duhka (suffering)
2. Suffering is caused by desire and attachment / There is a pattern to how duhkha rises
3. The cessation of desire leads to the cessation of suffering / There is a pattern to how duhkha is resolved
4. One can overcome desire by way of the eight-fold path / There is an Eightfold Path for turning duhkha towards a meaningful resolution

Question 28

The Eightfold Path

Answer 28

1. Right understanding - questions of epistemology and metaphysics, echoes Socratic commitment to truth
2. Right thought - question of epistemology, less about understanding the object and more about the method
3. Right speech - question of ethics, speaking with truthfulness and kindness
4. Right action - question of ethics, particular actions to perform and avoid, ahimsa (principle of not causing harm to other living things)
5. Right livelihood - sustainability of life, acting according to the role you play in the lives of others
6. Right effort - discipline and changing patterns thru self-evaluation require effort
7. Right mindfulness - practicing these procedures with an emphasis on being in the moment
8. Right concentration - mindfulness leads to special meditation which helps achieve inner peace and understanding of presence

Question 29

the 3 essentials of Buddhist training and discipline

Answer 29

1. wisdom
2. ethical conduct
3. mental discipline

Question 30

key Buddhist ideas

Answer 30

• anatman
• compassion

Question 31

Anatman

Answer 31

the idea of non-self, the self is not an independently existing entity, self is beyond achievements, status, and appearances

Question 32

Buddhist compassion/lovingkindness

Answer 32

compassion is the chief virtue as it emphasizes relating to other sentient beings thru it

Question 33

Dhammapada

Answer 33

Buddhist text which references the nature of thought and mind and the self-reflexive method which calls into question mental states and critiques; says that we are based on thought, therefore life outcomes are shaped by one’s thoughts, speaking and acting on pure and good thoughts will lead to happiness while doing the opposite will lead to suffering