Lecture Notes Page

August 23, 2004

What is Philosophy?

Philosophy is something that explain things that we face in the world. The reason why things happen.
 

In this world there are mainly two types of people, one thinks that things that we don't see are things that are not exist and there is no truth in the world. While another group of people thinks that things that we don't see are not always not exists and that there is truth in the world and when we understand the truth we will know about the world.
 

Everyone has there own worldview- how do we see the world. Here are the main ones:

    Atheism There is no God
                 Deism  God is the watchmaker
                 Theism  there is personal God
            Pantheism everything is God

August 25, 2004

There are two possible answers for where is the origin of life:
              God created us
              Life is developed naturally
There are two theories that are used to explain this:
              The Theory of Evolution
              The Theory of Creation

The Theory of Evolution

              Macroevolution changes within the species
                                                 after long period of time.
              Microevolution when animals are cut off
                                                their original place and
                                                develop new organ to
                                                survive.
              Creationism God spoke physical matter in-
                                           to existence, living forms do
                                           change but limited and not
                                           progressive.

The Theory of Creation

              Theistic God create first cell then evolution
                                    takes place.
              Deistic God create the first blob, then
                                  evolution takes place.
              Pantheistic God is everything.
              Progressive God create life out of nothing
                                            in six period tiime.
              Special God is presented as the Creator of
                                   both the nonliving thing and living
                                   matter in our solar system and
                                   universe.    

August 27, 2004

Different types of accounts:

Scientific

Religious

Folk/Religion-story that has been made up

Scientific:

Big Bang-explosion and the solar system was formed; earth is a better place because there is water and suitable climate

Chemical Evolution-chemical compound to form life

Van Helmont	1577-1644	Scorpions between bricks? Mice from peanuts in a box!
Darwin	1809-1882	1859 "On the origin of species by Natural Selection or the Preservation of   Favored Races in the struggle of life." Natural selection + small changes
Redi   Mendel   Pasteur	---	Flies Beans Simple experiments Only life produces life Pasteurization

Problems of the "Scientific" Account

design

interdependence

similarities

wonder of nature

Stephen Hawkins said that if the strength of the big bang had been 1/100000000 stronger or weaker live would had been impossible for earth.

August 30, 2004

What is the problem?

Death

The majority of people believe in God.

 Characteristic:

	Immortal-no beginning and ending (infinity)
	Omnipresent-everywhere
	Omnipotent
	Good
	Creator

Notes

	God created intelligence, being free to love God.
	Asian-philosophy has no beginning its a cycle.
	Western-one chance of life so worry about beginning
	God-solve by dying for them.
	What is Bible? It is the story fell into sin, created, and save them from sin.

November 10, 2004

The year 560, a man tired to modified Hinduism but instead he ended up started a new religion- Buddhism

Buddhism is more tolerant

Even atheist can accept Buddhism

Many people admire the Buddhist justice system

Admiration toward Buddhist ethics

To many Nirvana makes sense to many.

Concepts of Dharma

Humans are not independent units

The etching of Buddha doesn't recondite the Hindu idea of self ...

Nirvana

Negative

Believe in the self in rejected and concept like I and my

4 noble truth

Existence is miserable and painful

The source of suffering is desire and ignorance

It is possible for suffering to stop-In Hinduism the cycle can't be broken but in Buddhism it can be broken.

The way of removable of suffering is the noble Eightfold Path

None Eightfold Path

1. Wisdom

Right knowledge

Right attitude

2. Ethical conduct

Right speech

Right action

Right living

3. Mental disciple

Right effort

Right mindfulness

Right composure

2 Main Version of Nirvana

Theravadas ( small vehicle) - mostly found in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka

Salvation is not intended for few people

The number of Buddha can be many

Nirvana is not describe by negative

Cults and rituals are very important esp. for people who are weak in faith.

Mahayana ( Great vehicle) - mostly found in North and South Korea, China, and Hong Kong

Keep the the original teaching of Buddhist

Emphasize individual effort in achieving everything

Reject all image s and ritual

Reject praying to Buddha since he is in nirvana