Pyrrho and Pyrrhonism

2021 ◽  
pp. 167-194
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Gowans
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Specific Nature ◽  
Sextus Empiricus ◽  
Ideal State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Emotionally Troubled ◽  
The World ◽  
Pyrrhonian Skepticism ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Ideal

The chapter argues that Pyrrho and ancient Pyrrhonian skepticism (specifically, Sextus Empiricus) are plausibly interpreted as accepting a self-cultivation philosophy, though in somewhat different senses and with some qualification. For both, the existential starting point is an emotionally troubled life rooted in beliefs about the world, and the ideal state of being is a life of tranquility without these beliefs and guided by appearances. It is difficult to say what spiritual exercises Pyrrho thought were needed to achieve the ideal state: perhaps learning his philosophy and habituating ourselves to follow it. However, for Sextus, employment of skeptical arguments was the primary exercise. Since neither Pyrrho nor Sextus supposed we could make assertions about the specific nature of things, neither had a philosophy of human nature in a straightforward sense. Nonetheless, presentations of their outlooks betray some perspective on this (e.g., about the relationship between absence of belief and tranquility).

Epicureanism

2021 ◽  
pp. 115-140
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Gowans
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Mental Distress ◽  
Moral Virtue ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fear Of Death ◽  
Philosophical Foundation ◽  
Physical Pain ◽  
Ideal State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Ideal

The chapter argues that ancient Epicureanism (mainly Epicurus, Lucretius, and Philodemus) is plausibly interpreted as a self-cultivation philosophy. The existential starting point is a life of irrational fears and frustrated desires. The ideal state of well-being is a life of pleasure, understood primarily as the absence of physical pain and mental distress (more tranquilism than hedonism). This ideal life is free of fear of death and the gods, and it is devoted to friendship, moral virtue, and the pursuit of desires only if they are natural and necessary. The philosophical foundation is a materialist, atomistic theory of nature and human nature that entails that death is nothing to fear, the gods are unconcerned with us, and only natural and necessary desires are important. We achieve this ideal through spiritual exercises that involve learning Epicurean philosophy, modifying desires, and cultivating virtue in a community of like-minded people.

Indian Buddhism

2021 ◽  
pp. 82-110
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Gowans
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Spiritual Exercises ◽  
Intrinsic Nature ◽  
Ideal State ◽  
Indian Buddhism ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Buddha ◽  
The Ideal

The chapter argues that the teaching of the Buddha, Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga, and Śāntideva’s Bodhicaryāvatāra are each plausibly interpreted as self-cultivation philosophies. For each, the existential starting point is that we are caught in a cycle of rebirth permeated by suffering caused by craving, something rooted in the delusion that we are selves or have an intrinsic nature. The ideal state of being is centrally the awareness that we are not selves or are empty of an intrinsic nature. This awareness—nirvana—is a state of peace and compassion that ends the cycle of rebirth. The transformation from suffering to nirvana is achieved through intellectual, ethical, and meditative disciplines, the spiritual exercises, namely the Eightfold Path or the Six Perfections. Though Buddhism denies that there is a self, this denial is connected to an understanding of human nature as consisting of five kinds of “aggregates” and having the capacity for enlightenment.

The Question of Disclosure in Photography

Glimpse ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38
Author(s):  
Junichiro Inutsuka ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Epistemic Value ◽  
Human Consciousness ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Technological Environment ◽  
Cognitive Transformation ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship

Keeping aside discussions about theories of depiction of photography and the epistemic value of photography from the viewer’s perspective, I reconsider this techne from the photographers’ entire act of photographing. It presents the quest of the possibility to regain the world by the art of photography, especially in a situation where human consciousness of the living environment is overwhelmed by the photographic effects. The nature of the current technological environment—while disguising the manifestation of pure humanity, in the sense that it is the externalization of technology due to human nature—is completely destructive. Today, trying to save or regenerate philosophy should be nothing more than seeking a way for human beings to refuse being incorporated as an automaton in an endless track of automated reproduction processes. As one of those who wish to find a way to reconstruct the relationship between humans and nature or to reveal that human existence can only be established in such correlation, I seek a way of breathing human freedom, momentarily disputing this automated living and social environment. In other words, to regain or to play the art of photography, to unsettle what usually works as concrete support for the cognitive transformation making us unconsciously think of the technological environment as something inevitable and natural. It would be presenting a temporary retreat and a more positive way forward.

Introduction

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Matthew Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Future Study ◽  
Historical Study ◽  
The World ◽  
Individual Contributions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Narrative Thread ◽  
The Relationship

This introduction considers the ‘environmental turn’ taken in the humanities, and particularly in historical study, suggesting ways in which these developments might animate the future study of nineteenth-century Ireland. Question of agency and the relationship between human and non-human nature are addressed. Also considered is how current environmental concerns, and climate change in particular, should lead us to think anew about the past, rendering familiar subjects unfamiliar. Particular attention is paid to how Ireland’s past might be located within larger global processes, attracting the interest of scholars from throughout the world. It then introduces the individual contributions in the volume, tracing a narrative thread through them in order to demonstrate how a change in optic can significantly change how we think about Ireland’s recent past.

What Are Self-Cultivation Philosophies?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Christopher W. Gowans
Keyword(s):  
Reflective Practice ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Virtue Epistemology ◽  
Philosophical Analysis ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Cognitive Capacities ◽  
Ideal State ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Part Structure ◽  
Life Philosophy

The chapter defines the concept of a self-cultivation philosophy. This proposes that human beings can and should move from a troubled state of existence to some ideal state of being via spiritual exercises guided by some philosophical analysis. Philosophy is defined as a reflective practice that seeks understanding of fundamental assumptions in our life. Philosophy may be a practical discipline or a theoretical one, and it may be based on whatever cognitive capacities human beings possess, including reason and awareness. This claim is defended by reference to virtue epistemology. Self-cultivation philosophy has a four-part structure: an account of human nature, an existential starting point, an ideal state of being, and a transformation program. The transformation program consists of exercises which have four functions: Cognition, Purification, Doctrine, and Habituation. Self-cultivation philosophies are often expressed in transformational texts intended to guide people in how to live their lives according to the philosophy

scholarly journals Pilgrimage In The Celtic Christian Tradition

Perichoresis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-19
Author(s):  
Rodney Aist
Keyword(s):  
Christian Tradition ◽  
Short Discussion ◽  
Christian Life ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Ideal

Abstract This papers explores the diversity of pilgrim expressions in the Celtic Christian sources, focusing largely upon scriptural and theological images-namely, the image of Jerusalem, the example of Abraham, and journey as a metaphor for the earthly life. Discussion on Celtic interest in Jerusalem will focus on the text, De locis sanctis, by Adomnán of Iona (d. 704). Central to Abrahamic pilgrimage is the ideal of being a stranger, foreigner, exile and alien in the world. Columbanus (d. 615) and Columba (d. 597) are both described as pilgrims in the tradition of Abraham. The life of Patrick raises the question of the relationship between Abrahamic pilgrimage and the missionary life. The phenomenon of the seafaring monks, most famously St Brendan, will also be discussed through the lens of Abraham, while the corresponding text, The Voyage of St Brendan, will lead to a short discussion of liturgy as a form of pilgrimage. Finally, the lifelong journey of the Christian life-expressed through the metaphors of road and journey in the writings of Columbanus-will be discussed.

More, Morton, and the Politics of Accommodation

1970 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Davis
Keyword(s):  
Thomas More ◽  
The Real ◽  
Ideal State ◽  
Academic Philosophy ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Ideal

In the private conversation of close friends this academic philosophy is not without its charm, but in the council of kings, where great matters are debated with great authority, there is no room for these notions …. But there is another philosophy, more practical for statesmen, which knows its stage, adapts itself to the play in hand, and performs its role neatly and appropriately. This is the philosophy which you must employ.This trimmer's prescription, with its blast of the breath of experience over the unguarded optimism of theory, is crucial to an understanding of More's Utopia and an appreciation of its unity. Was Thomas More seriously recommending the accommodational approach to politics here put forward by the fictional “More” in Book I of the Utopia, and what was the relationship between this approach and the ideal state described in Book II?The various answers given to these questions can be seen as hinges on which the various interpretations of the Utopia have turned. The accommodational argument stands at the crux of the debate on counsel, which takes up almost the whole of Book I. Upon the interpretation of this debate can depend the view taken of More's intention in depicting the fictional society of Utopia, and involved in this interpretation is the knotty problem of whether the real More's opinions are voiced by Hythlodaeus or by the fictional “More.”An examination of the two approaches most frequently adopted will reveal the importance of the problem. The first approach is that which sees the real More's views as expressed by the fictional “More” of the Utopia.

scholarly journals Gnoseological problem as a subject of the metaphysical discourse

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-140
Author(s):  
Chekal L. ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Specific Kind ◽  
Philosophical Thought ◽  
The World ◽  
Individual Knowledge ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cognition And Knowledge ◽  
The Ideal

The study focuses on the analysis of epistemological metaphysical discourses in their genesis: from the times of ancient philosophical thought, which contains the origins of the issue, to the epistemological explorations of the twentieth century. The author reviews the features of metaphysics as epistemology that expands interpretations of the cognition process in the context of limits and opportunities withing the relationship between a human and the world. The article also outlines the specifics of metaphysical approaches to the problem of truth. The process of cognition can be interpreted as a specific kind of spiritual activity of an individual. Knowledge can be defined as an information about the world that exists in a form of a certain reality - the ideal construct of existence. Cognition and knowledge differ one from another as the former is a process and the latter is a result. We should think of epistemology as numerous attempts to answer the fundamental question: what is the world really like? Is it such as we perceive it, or is it so different that we are not capable to comprehend its essence?

scholarly journals MANUSIA DAN AGAMA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (02) ◽  
pp. 183
Author(s):  
Achmad Asrori
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Absolute Necessity ◽  
Interesting Study ◽  
Scientific Disciplines ◽  
The World ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Universe

The study of humans is a very interesting study, because besides being approachable from various aspects, it also concerns us as human beings. This study of humans has been done for a long time since the time of the ancient philosophers in Greece. They have started talking about humans, besides talking about God and the universe. This study of humans also eventually gave birth to various scientific disciplines, such as sociology, anthropology, biology, psychology, and other sciences.Religion is a part that cannot be separated from humans, considering that since humans were born into the world, God has actually been equipped with religion. For this reason, the relationship between humans and religion will be explained in this section so that it becomes clear that religion is an absolute necessity for humans and humans cannot live in order and prosperity in this world without religion. In other words, human nature is religious, so when a human claims to be non-religious means he has lied to himself and at the same time has done wrong against him.

scholarly journals The Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53–8:11): Jesus’ Answer, an Offer of Life to Suffering Women

Perichoresis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-20
Author(s):  
Annelien Rabie-Boshof
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Gospel Of John ◽  
The Sun ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Divine Nature ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The World

Abstract This article explores a probable motivation for the insertion of the Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53–8:11) in the Gospel of John in consideration of the motive of ‘living/life’ used by the gospel writer. Using John 8:12 as the starting point of this investigation, the article focuses on the warning to the Israelites against idolatry with specific attention to the warning against worshiping the sun, the moon, and the stars (Deuteronomy 4:15–20). It also deals with the Feast of Tabernacles, which is the direct context in which Jesus declared that he is the light of the world. The water ceremony also plays a central role in understanding the bigger picture that unfolds, as well as the Early Church’s struggle against heretical Christological teachings of who Jesus was with regard to his human nature and his divine nature.

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