icarus: Snape by mysterious artist (Default)
[personal profile] icarus
I have news.

Philosophy was not invented by the Greeks (600-400 B.C.). The word was. Philo (love of) + Sophia (wisdom) = Philosophy.

But not philosophy itself.

I realise this is a novel concept, even for some Ph.Ds. But yes indeedy, it's a big world out there. There were the 100 Schools of Thought of the later Zhou period in China (771-256 B.C.) which brought us Taoism, Legalism, Moism, Naturalism, and good old Confucianism (among others). While the Indian philosophical texts of the Rig-Veda date from 1,500 B.C.

Oh. You say that this is religion and not philosophy?

Okay. So the question "Propelled by what does a directed mind fall upon its object?" (quote from the Upanishads) is not a philosophical question?

So then, what is it that defines a subject as religious rather than philosophical if not the nature of the questions asked? If the texts in question discuss the idea of God or Gods, does that by nature make them religious -- because that rules out Nietsche, doesn't it? If the definition of "this is religion" means there are some assumptions that have to be taken on faith, then if there are hundreds of open-ended philosophical questions and two items that are taken as articles of faith -- do we dismiss all of the questions?

What does one do with a close-minded, Eurocentric, has never heard of the 100 Schools of Thought, defines-anything-that-smacks-of-religion as something that is anti-philosophical and stifles "freedom of thought" (because, as everyone knows, the actions of the Medieval-era Catholic defines all religion everywhere) Philosophy Professor? Particularly when your purpose in taking the class is to compare and contrast western philosophy with eastern philosophical tenets?

Why, one dumps his class. ASAP.

Rhetorical questions brought to you by one very frustrated Icarus.

Date: 2004-09-28 07:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] leni-jess.livejournal.com
I hope it's not to late in the semester to shop for a more suitable replacement course? How maddening to find your teacher so closed in (which might, as [livejournal.com profile] nostrademons said, be official policy/territorial) and closed off (which is a personal defect)!

Date: 2004-09-28 11:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com
That's my hope. At this point I'm ready to take a math (cringe, horror) class instead of this one. It was the first day of class, so hopefully I can switch.

Icarus

Date: 2004-09-28 11:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com
There is another philosophy teacher, and scanning his text it seems that he has a broader view. It touches on Walpole Rahula's discussion of Buddhism early on. The scope of the class is clearly up to the instructor.

Icarus

Date: 2004-09-29 12:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dphearson.livejournal.com
Breadth of a class, or school of thought, is certainly up tothe teacher- or to what the school will allow to be taught. If this man said such things in his classroom, that was his right, but to frame such discussion in pro/con religions shows a stunning lack of insight and thought.

Date: 2004-09-29 01:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] icarusancalion.livejournal.com
He wasn't obvious about it, and wouldn't get in trouble. He has simply neatly sliced off "religion" from his discussion of philosophy.

Given the class I actually wanted was Philosophy of Religion, this doesn't work for me.

Icarus

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