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Philosophy 242A BUDDHIST THOUGHT IN GLOBAL CONTEXT
GANGADEAN
Prerequisite: At least one course in philosophy, or consent.
Requirements: A short (three page) paper on an assigned topic from the text just before midterm; an intensive oral midterm conference (Five students, one-and-a-half hour) based on detailed midterm review questions and a preliminary written draft response; a comprehensive final paper (l6-20 pages, in lieu of exam) on a topic chosen in consultation with the instructor, and due at the end of exam period; class attendance and participation is central.
Description: A critical exploration of classical Indian Buddhist thought in a global and comparative context, focusing on the global influence of Buddha’s awakening and the philosophical articulation of this. The course begins with a meditative reading of the classical text- The Dhamapada and proceeds to an in-depth critical exploration of the teachings of Nagarjuna, the great dialectician who founded the Madhyamika tradition of Buddhist thinking. We focus on his central work- The Karikas.
Our journey unfolds a global context of philosophy in critical comparison with classical texts in the European traditions - Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Descartes, Wittgenstein, Derrida and others.
The student is oriented in the methods and dialectics of meditative thinking which are rigorously and systematically developed in classical Buddhist thought. This introduction to meditative life is developed through direct participation, performance and experimentation, and brings out the inherent limitations in egocentric thinking showing why such conduct of mind produces existential suffering and disorders.
The first half of the course is orientation to meditative dynamics and transformations which prepare us for entering the challenging Karikas of Nagarjuna. In this advanced text in the phenomenology of meditative discourse the student enters into a powerful critique of dual thinking and experiences the foundations of natural reason in the non-dual or Madhyamika methods of conducting the mind. This course seeks to cultivate the deepest understanding of the meditative teachings through a direct encounter with meditative thought and meditative dialogue in class.
Readings:
The Dhamapada
Hesse- Siddhartha
Shantideva- A Guide to the Boddhisattva’s Way of Life
Nagarjuna- The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way
Kalupahana- A History of Buddhist Philosophy
Optional: Meditative Reason by Gangadean
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