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Questions ChinesePhilosophy Chap1
Questions ChinesePhilosophy Chap1
Questions ChinesePhilosophy Chap1
I Ciclo 2016
F 1004: Introduction to Asian Philosophy
Professor: Dr. Choe, Hyondok
The main point is that ethics are the basis for the spirituality of the Chinese
civilization. Religion as we know it in the western world does not play an
important role in their society.
- In order to argue against D. Bodde, the author introduces the
distinction between moral values and super-moral values. (a)
Please explain those two concepts. (b) The love of God by
Christianity was viewed at first as religious value, and that of
Spinoza not. But after an attentive examination the latter is rather
the super-moral value. Please explain it why. (p.
a) Moral values are concerned with everyday life in this world, whereas
super-moral values are those that go beyond our regular values and are
more concerned with the universe outside this world.
b) This is because in Christianity, the love for God is actually the love for a
personality that is no different from the love we would have for another
human being. In the case of Spinoza, his idea of love for the universe goes
beyond any person and is actually concerned with the wholeness of
existence.
I agree with the former, but I think the latter should be carefully analyzed.
Philosophy is not something one possesses or acquires. Unlike a religion one
cant affiliate to a certain philosophy. I dont think it is a substitute for
religion, because if you see it that way you would be undermining the its
very essence.
Sageliness within and kingliness without. One could interpret that with his
Sageliness within a man is able to "cultivate" his spirit and his concerns for
the other world and with his kingliness without he's able to function within a
society in a proper manner. There is a much more realistic approach to the
fact that it is very unlikely for a philosopher to become king in this case.
Plato on the other hand says that if a philosopher were to become a King he
would do so against his will. The author includes a brief narration of a Taoist
story to ilustrate this where a philosopher is obligated by the people of his
town to be their ruler.
They are primarily short texts. They were written in a time when it was
considered that philosophy was something that all humans had to do, and
thus it was a profession as we know it today. There is certain
disconnectedness to these writing given the fact that they were written by a
lot of different people.
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