Class Notes
Relgst 0525 (Hist 0475): Religion & Culture in East Asia
Class Notes
January 7, 2014
Zeno’s “Paradox” Paradox of the arrow If an archer puts force on an arrow towards a target, one can see the archer touching the target. The problem according to Zeno is that the arrow does not hit the target. It is impossible. The arrow cannot hit the target. Cause (beginning, starts) – space/time (gravity) – > effect (end, finish) Four nouns: Body, bow, arrow, target Einstein: At some point in time and space, you will get half way. Then, there will be infinite regress. Zeno: We can’t know beginnings/starts/causes/when the world began. Aristotle: Unwilling to imagine a world that is beginning-less. First Cause Turtle or Rabbit win the race? According to Zeno, no one wins the race Solve Zeno’s Paradox – Everything is a one big verb. There are no nouns.
Pratitya-samultpada – dependent co-arising or codependent arising Not autonomy; things are not what you think they are Birthdate – 3/29/70 – illusions – before father, before mother; you are infinite; you are gods and goddesses Simple World View
Things
To understand Chinese and Japanese religions, understand that the world is united/connected! Nothing is independent.
Samsara
Maya – illusion
Om – everything is vibrating; nothing is solid
Pre-Socratic – What is stuff made of? atom
Change - Heraclitus – The entire universe is constantly moving. It is in flux. Everything is changing.
Stasis - Parmenides – All things stay the same.
World made up of words or nouns?
Who won? Parmenides
End note: Consider that we might be wrong like Neo.
January 14, 2013
Dubois
“ideas in action”
Religion/zongjiao/shukyo
Avalokitesuara Guanyin Kannon
Poceski
“3 Teachings” – Not seen as mutually exclusive in China
Hybridity
Pluralism
Sinicization
---
Peking man
3 dynasties
Pyromancy
Shangdi
Tian
---
Tao
Chi
Li
Reverse Euhemerisation
“Mandate of heaven” (tianming)
(duties, actions) Karma pratilya samutpada
Action leads to
Class Notes
January 7, 2014
Zeno’s “Paradox” Paradox of the arrow If an archer puts force on an arrow towards a target, one can see the archer touching the target. The problem according to Zeno is that the arrow does not hit the target. It is impossible. The arrow cannot hit the target. Cause (beginning, starts) – space/time (gravity) – > effect (end, finish) Four nouns: Body, bow, arrow, target Einstein: At some point in time and space, you will get half way. Then, there will be infinite regress. Zeno: We can’t know beginnings/starts/causes/when the world began. Aristotle: Unwilling to imagine a world that is beginning-less. First Cause Turtle or Rabbit win the race? According to Zeno, no one wins the race Solve Zeno’s Paradox – Everything is a one big verb. There are no nouns.
Pratitya-samultpada – dependent co-arising or codependent arising Not autonomy; things are not what you think they are Birthdate – 3/29/70 – illusions – before father, before mother; you are infinite; you are gods and goddesses Simple World View
Things
To understand Chinese and Japanese religions, understand that the world is united/connected! Nothing is independent.
Samsara
Maya – illusion
Om – everything is vibrating; nothing is solid
Pre-Socratic – What is stuff made of? atom
Change - Heraclitus – The entire universe is constantly moving. It is in flux. Everything is changing.
Stasis - Parmenides – All things stay the same.
World made up of words or nouns?
Who won? Parmenides
End note: Consider that we might be wrong like Neo.
January 14, 2013
Dubois
“ideas in action”
Religion/zongjiao/shukyo
Avalokitesuara Guanyin Kannon
Poceski
“3 Teachings” – Not seen as mutually exclusive in China
Hybridity
Pluralism
Sinicization
---
Peking man
3 dynasties
Pyromancy
Shangdi
Tian
---
Tao
Chi
Li
Reverse Euhemerisation
“Mandate of heaven” (tianming)
(duties, actions) Karma pratilya samutpada
Action leads to