Browsing by Subject "Prajna Vihara: -- Journal of Philosophy and Religion -- 2019"
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    On bitcoin and Simmel's idea of perfect money
    (Assumption University Press, 2019) Siwittra Chainiyom ; Giordano, John
    Georg Simmel in his book Philosophy of Money,described how money evolves through history and predicted that it will evolve to the point where it no longer relies on any substance. He called this stage “perfect money,” which he described as “money detached from every substantial value”. Today we are faced with the development of cryptocurrencies, of which Bitcoin is the best known. Bitcoin presents a new system of transaction which does not require governments or middlemen to regulate trade. Since such currencies are completely beyond substantial value, the philosophical question emerges whether Bitcoin is “perfect money.” This essay will argue that Bitcoin can be understood in connection with Simmel’s idea of “perfect money.” But will also consider Simmel’s claim that perfect money is only possible in a stable society and will show the limitations of cyrptocurrencies and Bitcoin in light of this.
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    Service-learning and community : a case study of a university audio-book program for the blind
    (Assumption University Press, 2019) Chavakorn Techakesari ; Kajornpat Tangyin
    University courses in ethics are designed to help a student develop their moral character. But while classroom work provides students with knowledge, it is often not sufficient for deeper character development. The students also need some sort of practical engagement with people in their surrounding communities. This interaction creates both individual reflection and social awareness. Service-learning is a program which encourages the participants to learn and develop their moral characters through working in the community. During this interaction, both participants and community members learn by sharing and exchanging their experiences. But the question remains how effective this program is in creating awareness of communities outside of the orbit of the typical university experience? This paper, uses a case study of an audio-book program developed at Assumption University of Thailand called: ‘AU Voice for the Blind.’ It will demonstrate on both a theoretical and practical level how the student participant’s values are shaped by such learning experiences.
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    A teleological interpretation of John Hick's threefold typology
    (Assumption University Press, 2019) Matsumoto, Fumihiko ; Kajornpat Tangyin
    This research critically investigates the soteriological ground of John Hick’s religious typology and his understanding of Religious Pluralism. It begins by considering the criticsims of Gavin D’Costa who, in his early work, favored Hick’s typology in Theology and Religious Pluralism, but later became critical of it in his work, Impossibility of a Pluralist view of Religions. It will also consider Paul Knitter’s alternative fourfold typology introduced in his work, Introducing Theologies of Religions, and Mark Heim’s ideas concerning religious pluralism in his work Salvation. Finally, the paper will investigate Zen Buddhism’s view of a “positionless position” as a “non-common denominator” from Masao Abe’s Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue to see if Hick’s idea of ultimate reality is viable basis to defend religious pluralism. After demonstrating these critiques of Hick’s main soteriological grounds of this threefold typology, the research defends a new framework of threefold typology, not built on soteriological grounds, but on teleological grounds, in order to fulfill Hick’s own wishes for promoting peace both spiritually and socially. This is a new framework which can embrace the beliefs of not only pluralists, but also exclusivists and inclusivists, and those who comprise the majority of Christians in the world today.
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    Towards a Neo-Aristotelian account of philosophical counseling
    (Assumption University Press, 2019) Thesigan Nadarajan ; Clark, Michael
    At present, there is no generally accepted account of what philosophical counselling is or why we should practice it. The aim of this article is to propose an account of philosophical counselling in terms of an Aristotelian concept of Eudaimonia. I argue that this concept provides an apt description of what philosophical counselling, in many cases, consists in. One benefit of construing philosophical counselling in terms of Eudaimonia is that it provides a natural justification for the practice: since it is plausible that Eudaimonia is a desirable state to be in, philosophical counselling is worth engaging in inasmuch as it promotes that state.
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    The trial of commander data
    (Bangkok : Assumption University, 2019) Pattarawin Tipkrailash ; Clark, Michael
    This paper’s aim is to explore the moral topics raised in the TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” Season 2 Episode 9 entitled “Measure of Man”. In this episode Commander Data, an Android, is put on trial to determine if can be considered human, or if he has the same rights as a human being. This paper discusses ethical issues raised by this trial. Picard’s argument in defence of Data appeals to epistemological doubts about whether or not Data is sentient. But this paper will take an alternative approach. It will show how inanimate objects can also possess a value which demand ethical obligations from sentient beings. It will also show how the trial reflects back on human morality and the measure of man refers less to the audience and more to the human beings conducting and observing the trial.
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    Zhou Dunyi's concept of Taiji in the Taiji Tushuo
    (Bangkok : Assumption University, 2019) Qin, Zenyu ; Wang, Shang-Wen
    As a renowned philosopher of Song Dynasty, Zhou Dunyi played a significant role in creating a new approach for Chinese philosophy. This involved a reinterpretation of Confucianism inspired by the ideas of Daoism and Buddhism. This was a huge influence in the development of Neo-Confucian thought. He did not write many works in his life, but he did write a very significant work entitled Taiji Tushuo, which explains the famous Taiji diagram. This paper mainly introduces the historical context and formative influences on Zhou Dunyi’s Taiji Tushuo, the content of Taiji Tushuo and its main concepts. It will also try to assess the modern social value of Taiji thought. The purpose of this paper is to give readers a clear picture of Taiji and the concept of Taiji thought.