Browsing by Subject "Prajna Vihara: -- Journal of Philosophy and Religion"
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    Analysis of freedom and thought in descartes' philosophy and its influence
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2022) Zhang, Zhiwu ; Malik, Mohammad Manzoor
    The search for truth and certainty is a major preoccupation with all Western philosophy. This has its most famous attempt in the philosophy of Descartes. This paper studies Descartes’ pure philosophy considered as a pure first philosophy. Descartes regards thinking as his core existence, and thinking is a freedom that I can truly grasp. Descartes is sometimes criticized for offering only a defense of the primacy of the freedom of thought in opposition to the freedom of action. This paper will show that Descartes does not oppose practical philosophy but intends to seek a metaphilosophy which supports practical philosophy, using the freedom of thinking as the foundation. In short, Descartes just wants to find a way of verifying truth prior to any political, cultural, traditional, moral, or religious factors. His influence is visible in the subsequent philosophies and philosophers who place the human beings at the center of philosophy.
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    Chantal Mouffe and religious pluralism: agonistic experiments in non-western societies
    (Assumption University Press, 2017) Lana Indralak ; Giordano, John
    This paper examines questions regarding the alleviation and management of religious conflict. It will first examine the philosophical framework of Chantal Mouffe as a response to Carl Schmitt’s critique of pluralism. Then it will give examples of conflict resolution and the preservation of diversity in such regions as, Lebanon, Indonesia and Thailand. Finally, it will examine these examples as exercises in “agonistics” as understood by Mouffe. This will be shown to be a valuable framework for conflict resolution and democracy in the ASEAN region.
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    Compassion and attachment: a comparison of max scheler and theravada buddhism
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2022) Holger, Lammert ; Giordano, John T.
    This paper will explore how the concept of compassion is understood by the Western phenomenological tradition of Max Scheler, in contrast to how it is understood by Theravāda Buddhism. In the Western tradition the distinctions and connections between ‘empathy,’ ‘sympathy’ and ‘compassion’ involve considerations about morality and ethical theory. Max Scheler combines his phenomenology with psychological approaches to consider how one individual can relate to the mental states of another other individuals. Scheler, distinguishes between empathy and sympathy to avoid the need to experience another’s suffering directly. This distinction is made in Theravāda Buddhism, where emotional contagion is understood as a form of attachment. But Scheler unlike Buddhism, still emphasizes the autonomous subject of phenomenology which is central to ethical action. Central to Theravāda Buddhism is the recognition of suffering and dealing with the feelings that arise. The individual sheds their attachments and this leads to a wholesome kamma, as stated in the first of the Four Noble Truths. So the Theravada Buddhist tradition focuses on the alleviation of suffering not only in the mind of the individual but of humanity in general. Since Theravāda Buddhism stresses non-self, this moves it beyond Scheler’s approach. This approach to compassion is not one of ‘feeling with’ or ‘suffering with’ another specific individual, but one that actively addresses human suffering in general.
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    Compassion for the other in levinas and buddhism: the case of the bodhisattva
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2022) Kajornpat Tangyin
    The philosophy of Levinas, gives a primacy to ethics over ontology, and a primacy of the other over the self. This is something which is also found in the tradition of Mahayana Buddhism, especially with regard to compassion, and the idea of the role of the Bodhisattva. This paper compares Levinas’s philosophy of ethics with the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism and and demonstrates how they are connected by their emphasis on the virtue of compassion. Both advocate a departure from the ego-self to the compassion for the other. Levinas like Buddhism redefines subjectivity through its responsibility to the other. So reading Levinas through Buddhism allows us to understand the shift from the Western idea of the self to the responsibility towards the other, and it allows us to understand the responsibility the self has towards addressing the suffering of the other. Also reading Levinas through Buddhism allows us to understand a respect for non-human nature which remains within the framework of Levinas’ philosophy.
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    The connection between happiness and practice in Buddhism and Aristotelian Philosophy
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2021) Nyartika
    This explores what happiness means according to the Buddhist and Aristotelian perspectives. Both view happiness as kind of practice which can be cultivated, not a gift that good fortune bestows upon humans. People often neglect this insight of the importance of creating their happiness by their own actions. Practicing morality, knowledge, and wisdom are important for cultivating a happy and well-lived life. This research investigates how the Buddha and Aristotle developed special practices which develop the virtues essential for obtaining happiness.
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    Defending mental causation by appealing to grounding
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2021) Pornthep Chawla
    Recently, Clark and Wildman have argued against a thesis about mental causation, due to Kroedel and Schulz, called the causal grounding thesis. A programmatic idea driving the causal grounding thesis is that instances of mental causation are always grounded by corresponding instances of purely physical causation. The causal grounding thesis goes beyond this programmatic idea by providing a substantial specification of how this occurs. The causal grounding thesis is of considerable philosophical interest because it is instrumental in Kroedel and Schulz’s attempt to develop non-reductive physicalism about the mind in such a way that the infamous exclusion problem is avoided. This paper extends Kroedel and Schulz’s defense of the causal grounding thesis and replies to Clark and Wildman’s concerns.
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    Developing interreligious dialogue in Myanmar: reflections on the Vatican document educating to intercultural dialogue in Catholic Schools
    (Assumption University Press, 2018) Win, Matthias Saw San
    For the Roman Catholic Church beginning with Vatican II, interreligious dialogue has been promoted as an instrument to obtain mutual understanding. This has been outlined in the document Nostra Aetate. The Bishops of Myanmar, fully aware that interreligious dialogue is highly necessary for witnessing the gospel of Jesus Christ in this Buddhist-majority nation, have taken steps in their respective dioceses to further promote this approach. This paper is an analysis of the ways this has been implemented. It will show that a positive attitude towards interreligious dialogue must be developed in the lives of seminarians while they are undergoing clerical training. As future priests, seminarians should understand and advocate the true meaning of dialogue with other religions in order to carry out their missions seamlessly and successfully.
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    Developing life-quality indicators for the philosophy of sufficiency economy based Upon Budhhadhamma
    ( 2021) Wichian Chabootbuntharik ; Giordano, John
    Although, sufficiency economy is a philosophy based on the fundamental principle of agriculture, which is traditionally the occupation of most people in Thai society, it can also be applied to other professions. However, this requires some modification so it can guide other professions and can contribute to an integrated economic theory. This modification should be based upon the philosophical principles of Buddhism. To enable this movement from philosophy to practical theory and application, this article will suggest how indicators can be developed based in Buddhism in order to guide the practitioners on living a good life in terms of economics, society, environment, balance, stability and sustainability. All these indicators are guided by the Buddhist middle way. And it will develop these indicators according to His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s idea of the ‘Three Rings’ consisting of moderation, reasonableness and self-immunity combined with two other conditions: knowledge and virtue.
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    Do we know art when we see it? philosophical explorations in aesthetics
    (Assumption University Press, 2015) Becker, Gerhold K.
    Never in history was art more present everywhere and never was it more valuable. Yet, in the wake of Duchamp and Warhol, the understanding of what art is and how it is recognized is more problematic today than any time in history. This paper examines the various approaches to how one recognizes a work of art as a work of art. It examines the history of aesthetic theory and the variousways art was defined. In the end it considers the value of the more hermeneutic and holistic interpretations of art put forward by Heidegger, Gadamer, Danto and Beuys.
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    Ellul, Bataille, Zhuangzi & Technological Man
    (Assumption University Press, 2017) Lewis, Justin
    The impact of modern technological society on the human spirit and on human values is undeniable. But the ability to philosophically engage with this impact and also to gain the means whereby we could evaluate it lucidly and soberly is a whole other matter. It is difficult for us today to find a place where we could stand outside the contemporary cultural matrix that has come to create our very selves, so as to identify and assess the aspects of our humanity that have always managed to outstrip the cultural conditioning and construction of our most basic senses of identity and self. This paper will take this as a central theme by briefly looking at three specific philosophers of culture and humanity, and will explore their insights on the concepts of technology, culture, utility, and efficiency. By extension, all the perspectives outlined here will also imply a philosophical portrayal of the condition of contemporary man therein. Through examining some specific writings of Jacques Ellul, Georges Bataille and the Chinese sage Zhuangzi, as they bring to bear on these aforementioned concepts, it is my contention that we will be in a better position to assess the relationship between the human spirit, technology and society in general, as well as explore the ways in which we can reclaim the inalienable and fundamental existential sovereignty of the human spirit in particular.
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    The emancipation from suffering in Mahayana Buddhism and its implications for contemporary mental health
    (Bangkok : Assumption University Press, 2021) Lim, Beng Keong
    Human beings constantly seek meaning and temporary happiness for themselves. Nevertheless, they live in a perpetual cycle of universal and subjective suffering, affecting their general and mental wellness. Scholars in the humanities continue to pursue questions of meaning and interpretation of suffering, and in science there is still no solution for the emancipation of human suffering. This study will try to show that the concept of Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism can address the issue of emancipation of suffering in a meaningful way. Mahayana Buddhism suggests that suffering comes from the objectification of the mind, the notion of self, and the discriminatory mind that arises from dualistic views. Overcoming suffering is possible by using the type of discipline usually reserved for the Bodhisattva. This disciple provides a way even in secular society to emancipate individuals from suffering, and improve their quality of life and mental well-being. In conclusion, the study suggests that Bodhisattva practice can be used in public education as a psychological tool for self-help and the emancipation of sufferings.
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    The essence of Kanyu in Feng Shui and the tombs of the Chinese Emperors
    ( 2021) Jing, Wang ; Giordano, John
    Chinese geomancy is also known as Feng Shui. It is an ancient philosophical ideological system that uses interdisciplinary knowledge such as astronomy, geography, and anthropology to realize the “harmony between heaven and human”. At present, Chinese geomancy mainly focuses on urban construction, large-scale architecture, interior design, and applied research in the fields of ecological environment, but there is very little discussion on the location of the tomb of the ancient emperors. Based on the concept of Kanyu and the principles of Chinese geomancy,this article compares the location of the tombs in the Emperor Valley in ancient China and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, combined with reflections on representational space in Eliade, Heidegger, Bachelard, and Lefebvre. It shows that the employment of Kanyu in the layout of the Emperors Tombs, there is a unity of ‘the representation of space’ with ‘representational space’.
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    Fischer's semicompatibilism and its consequences
    (Assumption University Press, 2018) Pisit Marnil ; Kajornpat Tangyin
    In this paper I argue that the symmetric approach to moral responsibility, proposed by John Martin Fischer, should be focused merely on the consequence-particular. Fischer employs the symmetric approach with the intention to solve the asymmetric problems on moral responsibility. The problem arises from Frankfurt’s case, which rejects the principle of alternate possibilities (PAP), and relies on the action, rather than omission resulting in asymmetric problems. Fischer solves the problem by using his guidance control and returns the symmetry the idea of moral responsibility. I am convinced by his idea of guidance control that moral responsibility for an omission is the same as moral responsibility for an action. Notwithstanding, I found that Fischer appears to broaden his conclusion from the consequence-particular to the consequence-universal. This issue becomes more explicit when he argues against the case of “direct argument”. But I contend that this argument is unnecessary. The attempt to stretch out responsibility to the consequence-universal is only designed to address a certain kind of problem in his moral responsibility’s theory. This can also be seen when Fischer tries to solve other problem by using his overdetermination example. I believe that his theory of moral responsibility and guidance control should limit itself merely to the consequenceparticular.
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    The hartshornian way : on solving the problem of Dualism
    (Assumption University, 2011) Warayuth Sriwarakuel ; Assumption University. Graduate School of Philosophy and Religion
    The Western way of thinking has been dominated by the Aristotelian law of the excluded middle. Even though Hegel tried to create a revolution for Western thought through his dialectical logic, the Aristotelian logic or the either/or logic still haunts the Western world. However, Hegelian logic is not so clear in terms of epistemology to solve the problem of dualism. It is Charles Hartshorne who could be said to have successfully solved the problem of dualism in the West. This paper will demonstrate what the author calls "the Hartshornian Way" and argues that only through this way, truths of the opposites can be recognized and combined together successfully.
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