As humans are finite beings, they have sought to understand and find the infinite throughout history. Theologians, philosophers, physicists, logicians, and mathematicians among those of other ...disciplines have all emphasized and tried to explain the notion of infinity in different ways. Ancient Greek philosopher Anaximander was one of the first Westerners to delve into this topic. Indian holy books serve as the first Eastern examples. In Buddhism, the concept colti nayuta literally meaning too many to count expresses infinity. One particular manuscript, the Surya Prajnapti, divides numbers into those that are countable, uncountable, and infinite. Several Old Uyghur translations of Buddhist texts contain many a word that loosely describes infinity. This study will explore that, and examine how the Uyghurs used to perceive infinity by examining between language and thought.
Taoist thinkers interpret existence as a continuous process. The source of changes is not an external force, but a tendency for transformation inherent in the Universe. In the world limited by space, ...time, and causation, in the world of distinctions and oppositions, Taoist practitioners achieve freedom of the mind and go beyond such a distinction. A new worldview without preferences towards any binary opposition is formed. Taoists obtain true knowledge of the world and develop complete awareness of infinity and diversity of life. This paper aims to analyze the key concepts of Taoism.
Thomo Kasulio civilizacinio mąstymo bruo Vareikis, Žilvinas
LOGOS - A Journal of Religion, Philosophy, Comparative Cultural Studies and Art,
2022
113
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The scholarly work of Lithuanian-born American philosopher Thomas Kasulis has been little studied in Lithuania. Kasulis has contributed to Japanese studies by translating numerous Japanese ...philosophical texts and writing works on Zen – Buddhism and Shinto. In his studies of Zen – Buddhism, he highlighted the importance of pre-reflective experience to explain reality. In his studies of Shinto, he revealed the profound meanings of essentialist and existential spirituality. In the comparative philosophy he emphasized two significant concepts of intercultural interaction: integrality and intimacy. With it the thinker tries to substantiate the dynamics of different cultures by explicating art, policy, mentality. Basing on the relevant national analogies the author of the article deepens his knowledge into the most important ideas of Kasulis, his comparative philosophy and his research contexts of Zen – Buddhism and Shinto.
The article explores developed by a French philosopher, sinologist François Julien psychoanalytic concepts, which are suggested to be used for a more accurate description of the logic of the ...psychoanalytical process and its components. This results in a deeper effect of the unthought-of (Fr. impensé). The author explains S. Freud’s theoretical psychoanalysis and its elements through the lens of extracts from Mencius, Confucius, Sunzi’s and other thinkers’ works, as well as images of the Chinese worldview. There, a greater emphasis is placed not on the “cold”, rational origin, but on the processual emotional interpretation, characterized by its situativity, adaptation to the relativity of the situation, and decisions, often made based on the ongoing circumstances, without the declaration of the termination of the situation. Offered by F. Jullien concepts enrich psychoanalysis with a deeper and more nuanced specificity of treatment, as well as offer new valuable connotations to Freud’s theoretical principles of psychoanalysis.
The article presents a unique perspective, linking the system of moral and ethical values of Confucianism and traditional ideas of the „Book of Changes” with solcial phenomena and ideas of the change ...in South Korean life nowadays. The main focus is laid on the symbolism of the flag of South Korea; in the meantime, a number of other examples which relate to the ancient philosophy of changes (such as symmetrical letters of the Korean alphabet, Taekwondo training forms, etc.) are given. In Korean culture, traditional ideas of the Chinese „Book of Changes” have been transformed and reinterpreted by creating an ideal of a harmonious society and a new, transformed world. Examples from contemporary Korean culture show that symbols of the „Book of Changes” are well-known and significant in Korea today and are likely to play an important role in Korean life in the future. At first, the article provides a historically descriptive overview of the spread of Confucianism and Chinese Classics in Korea. Thereafter, visual symbols of the „Book of Changes” in the flag of South Korea are analyzed, explained and interpreted from the semiotic point of view.
Wabi-Sabi may be associated with sprezzatura in terms of its use and meaning. Faultlessness and perfection creates feelings of doubt about authenticity and legitimacy as provoking feeling of ...artificiality in our senses. Sprezzatura may be regarded as a balancing factor against synthetic feelings of perfection. It is a prevalent opinion that hedonism and over indulgence may turn into depression and eventually turn into an existential crisis. Cha no yu is a ceremonial tea ritual structured in the 16th Century Japan by Rikyū based on a philosophy to contemplate about existence. Tranquility and peace experienced during this ritual constructed around Zen philosophy, as a contemplative process in the spirit of Wabi Sabi. Wabi Sabi and sprezzatura, both require authenticity and effortlessness in unification with nature and existence. The values related to Wabi-Sabi such as simplicity, austerity, modesty, humility, imperfection, authenticity, and asymmetry are the reflections of spiritual-existential reality and they also show associations with sprezzatura. Wabi-Sabi and sprezzatura are investigated in this study within their stylistic characteristics, roots, and philosophical backgrounds. The study was designed as phenomenology. Conceptual discourse analysis and content analysis methods were employed to analyze information. Wabi-Sabi is also investigated in relation to Stoicism, Janteloven, and minimalism.
The purpose of the article is to study the problem of the influence of philosophical views and traditions on the musical culture of China. The methodology of the study is to use historical and ...biographical methods in the study of this topic. The scientific novelty of the article is to study the feasibility of the problem of philosophical views of China, based on the country's musical traditions. The historical names of the philosophers who influenced the development of the musical arts and education system, which affected the cultural traditions of China, were singled out. Conclusions. Based on the study of the problem of philosophical views of China's worldview system, the country's development processes and distinctive culture were identified. The problem of studying the philosophical system of ancient China as the basis for the emergence of the musical tradition has interested many scholars, among whom are: L.S. Vasilyeva 1, Yu.M. Gradova 2, Hou Jiang 8, D.T. Suzuki 7 and others. Because it influenced the cultural life of the countries of the East. This question highlighted the philosophical trends that underpin China's traditions. Namely, philosophical traditions influenced the country's musical art. Thus, China's cultural traditions were based on ancient Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Special attention has been paid to the issues of education and music in China. A person must be ethically educated, endowed with spirituality, and truth. Music education played an important role in the culture of China because it was a carrier of the culture of the ancient Chinese. Numerical concepts played their magic role. According to the philosophy of Taoism, music should promote the emotional state of man and the harmonious connection with nature. Confucius emphasizes the comprehensive development of humans while emphasizing the morality of the individual. This is clearly reflected in his works: Shijing (Song Book), Shu Jing (History Book), Lun Yui (Conversations and Speeches). In the third and sixth centuries, China's musical culture was influenced by philosophical tendencies based on the Lao-Buddhist vision. Music played the role of expressing the essence of being. So, in the sixth century, a piece of music appeared for the musical instrument "Price" by composer Qiu Min "Yulanpu" or "Lone Orchid". The worldview system of ancient China became the basis for the emergence of musical traditions in the countries of the East. This problem is of interest to scientists and necessitates further development in the study of this issue.
In early Chinese philosophy, the concept of a unique individual separated from the outside world has no ontological basis. Every person is an open, interdependent construction, whose uniqueness can ...only be achieved and cannot be given. A person is an undetermined range and locus of experiences expressed through specific roles and relationships. In this article, the Author analyses such an understanding of the person in Confucian and Mencian thought. In Confucius’ philosophy, the junzi 君子 lives up to his status as long as he maintains ren 仁 relationships and displays proper emotions connected to ren. The author argues that, in the Analects, ren is a concept connected to the terms shu 恕, zhong 忠, yi 義 and li 禮. Ren may be interpreted as an ideal interaction that starts with an emphatic reaction towards another human being. Emphatic reactions, along with zhong—a sense of duty— is the basis for applying the situational moral norm yi and carrying it out according to li—the social norm. Ren behaviour is different for every person in every situation. It has to be learned and practised during the process of self-cultivation, xiushen 修身.Mencius’ moral theory is more complex, and concentrates on human nature and its features. According to this, human nature is shan 善, commonly translated as ‘good,’ because every person has four dispositions—emotions for developing ren, yi, li and zhi 智. Ren may be considered a virtue—it is not inborn, but has to be achieved and learned. Another skill required to be a sage was the understanding that every situation is unique, and that there is a right time to apply different norms—shizhong 詩中. Mencius’ thought is not simply an ethics of virtue, but it is also influenced by situational factors. Mencian moral behaviour is complex; not only does it require a deep understanding of oneself and the other, but also the use of all senses, sensitivity and creativity to deal with every situation in a different way. A sage, or a person who wants to become one, has to watch, listen, feel and understand every person and every situation. Moral cultivation in Mengzi’s thought is also a cultivation of the body’s qi 氣 (vigour or energy). Properly cultivated qi becomes haoran zhi qi 浩然之氣 (overflowing qi) and enables one’s body to have the zhi 志 (will) to follow its ren (heart/mind).
This contribution to a symposium on Karin Fierke’s 2022 book, Snapshots from Home, reflects on the dialectical aspects of her analysis, her contribution to Global IR, and the implications of her work ...for the field of International Relations.
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