Category Archives: Eastern Philosophy

The Basics of Confucianism

Eastern Philosophy

Temple of Confucius of Jiangyin, Wuxi, Jiangsu

© Darrell Arnold Ph.D.– (Reprinted with Permission)
https://darrellarnold.com/2018/09/07/confucius-and-confucianism-a-basic-introduction/

Confucius’ life

Confucius, or “Master Kung” as he became known, was born in the city of Lu (now known as Qufu) in the Northeast of China in 551 BCE and he died in 479 BCE. As a child he studied history and music, as well as hunting, fishing, and archery. Confucius exemplified in his own life the rather broad set of competencies and broad minded interests that come to be thought befitting of a well-developed gentleman within the Confucian system of education. He married but divorced. Continue reading The Basics of Confucianism →

Buddhist Metaphyics, Epistmology and Ethics

Buddhism, Eastern Philosophy

standing Buddha statue with draped garmet and haloStanding Buddha statue at the Tokyo National Museum

© Darrell Arnold Ph.D.– (Reprinted with Permission)
https://darrellarnold.com/2018/09/02/hindu-and-buddhist-thought-2/

Buddhist Metaphysics

While some strands of Buddhism have very thick metaphysics, there are some forms with an extremely pragmatic orientation and a general focus on practices. Buddhism rejects that there is an all-powerful, all-knowing creator God. Continue reading Buddhist Metaphyics, Epistmology and Ethics →

The Basics of Buddhism

Buddhism, Eastern Philosophy

standing Buddha statue with draped garmet and haloStanding Buddha statue at the Tokyo National Museum

© Darrell Arnold Ph.D.– (Reprinted with Permission)

Buddhist philosophy originates with Siddhartha Gautama. The Buddha’s life itself weaves an interesting philosophic narrative. According to tradition, he was born the son of a king in the Magda empire of Ancient India or present-day Nepal. He was raised a prince but eventually turned away from the life of politics that his father had envisaged for him in order to pursue a life of spirituality. Continue reading The Basics of Buddhism →

Hindu Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics

Eastern Philosophy, Hinduism

Om symbol.svg

© Darrell Arnold Ph.D.– (Reprinted with Permission)
https://darrellarnold.com/2018/09/02/hindu-and-buddhist-thought-2/

Metaphysics of Advaita Vedanta

Metaphysics studies the type of things that exist and includes reflections on ultimate reality … the views of Brahman and the self in Hinduism and the marks of existence in Buddhism, as well as related discussions of the five aggregates are all part … of metaphysics. Reincarnation and karma also can be included in this area of philosophy, as they concern processes to which existent things are subject. Continue reading Hindu Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Ethics →