Worlds of WisdomWorlds of Wisdom

What is the meaning of life? How What is the meaning of life? How can I become my truest self? can I become my truest self?

What is justice? What is my place What is justice? What is my place in the grand scheme of things?in the grand scheme of things?

PhilosophyPhilosophy

• Philosophy is the study of general Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems and fundamental problems concerning matters such as concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, law, justice, validity ... law, justice, validity ...

Worlds of WisdomWorlds of Wisdom

• Famous philosophers from around Famous philosophers from around the world have provided instruction the world have provided instruction and guidance about how a person and guidance about how a person should live his/her life.should live his/her life.

• This unit will investigate this This unit will investigate this historical literaturehistorical literature

• The culture of each philosopher will The culture of each philosopher will be studiedbe studied

Elements of Literature/ 6Elements of Literature/ 6thth CourseCourse

• Parts of the following titles will be studiedParts of the following titles will be studied– King James Bible – page 342King James Bible – page 342– The Koran – page 350The Koran – page 350– Bhagavad-Gita – page 351Bhagavad-Gita – page 351– Zen Parables – page 353Zen Parables – page 353– The Analects of Confucius – page 355The Analects of Confucius – page 355– Tao Te Ching – page 356Tao Te Ching – page 356– Taoist Anecdotes – page 357Taoist Anecdotes – page 357– Sayings of Saadi – page 358Sayings of Saadi – page 358– African Proverbs – page 359African Proverbs – page 359

ORAL TRADITIONORAL TRADITION

• Philosophers didn’t write their stories Philosophers didn’t write their stories down … they just told them to peopledown … they just told them to people

• Their disciples wrote them down for Their disciples wrote them down for later ageslater ages

DidacticDidactic

• AdjAdj• InstructionalInstructional• Wisdom literature serves a didactic Wisdom literature serves a didactic

(instructional) purpose: it teaches (instructional) purpose: it teaches people how to live.people how to live.

• Didactic literature can be sacred Didactic literature can be sacred (holy) or secular (not sacred/not (holy) or secular (not sacred/not having to do with religion)having to do with religion)

Sacred ContextSacred Context

• Many religions have written works Many religions have written works telling people how to relate to God telling people how to relate to God and how to live a moral life.and how to live a moral life.

• These works are forms of “Wisdom These works are forms of “Wisdom Literature” because they have their Literature” because they have their own unique styles and messages own unique styles and messages which were influenced by the eras and which were influenced by the eras and society in which they were written.society in which they were written.

Translated more than any Translated more than any other books in the world:other books in the world:

• Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching• Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita• BibleBible

• Why? Partially because of the beauty of their Why? Partially because of the beauty of their expression: The sayings, poems, and stories expression: The sayings, poems, and stories speak timeless truths in timeless voices.speak timeless truths in timeless voices.

• Why? Partially because of the commonality Why? Partially because of the commonality of human expression.of human expression.

Judaism: JewsJudaism: Jews

• Main Entry: Ju·da·ismMain Entry: Ju·da·ism• Pronunciation: \ˈjü-dē-ˌi-zəm, ˈjü-də-, ˈjü-(ˌ)dā-, Pronunciation: \ˈjü-dē-ˌi-zəm, ˈjü-də-, ˈjü-(ˌ)dā-,

British also ˈjü-ˌdi-zəm\British also ˈjü-ˌdi-zəm\• Function: nounFunction: noun• Date: 14th centuryDate: 14th century

• 1 : a religion developed among the ancient Hebrews 1 : a religion developed among the ancient Hebrews and characterized by belief in one transcendent and characterized by belief in one transcendent God who has revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, God who has revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditionsaccordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions

1000 B.C. – 100 B.C.1000 B.C. – 100 B.C.Hebrew Bible Hebrew Bible (Torah/Old Testament)(Torah/Old Testament)

The Middle EastThe Middle East

Just like Jesus wrote no Just like Jesus wrote no books, books,

• Taoist teachers: Laotzu 571 B.C.Taoist teachers: Laotzu 571 B.C.

• Confucious: Died 479 B.C.Confucious: Died 479 B.C.

• Masters of Zen BuddhismMasters of Zen Buddhism

571 B.C.571 B.C.Laotzu is born. Laotzu is born. Philosophical leader of Taoism.Philosophical leader of Taoism.

Taoism: Taoist anecdotes Taoism: Taoist anecdotes created: 400 – 100 B.C.created: 400 – 100 B.C.

• Main Entry: Tao·ismMain Entry: Tao·ism• Pronunciation: \-ˌi-zəm\Pronunciation: \-ˌi-zəm\• Variant(s): also Dao·ism \ˈdauS-\Variant(s): also Dao·ism \ˈdauS-\• Function: nounFunction: noun• Etymology: TaoEtymology: Tao• Date: 1838Date: 1838

• 1 : a Chinese mystical philosophy traditionally founded by 1 : a Chinese mystical philosophy traditionally founded by Lao-tzu in the sixth century b.c. that teaches conformity to Lao-tzu in the sixth century b.c. that teaches conformity to the Tao by unassertive action and simplicitythe Tao by unassertive action and simplicity

TaoismTaoism

• Broadly defined: Taoism consists of Broadly defined: Taoism consists of the joyful acceptance of life and a the joyful acceptance of life and a willingness to yield to the natural willingness to yield to the natural world, becoming one with it.world, becoming one with it.

• Chinese people see Taoism and Chinese people see Taoism and Confucianism as complementary Confucianism as complementary views.views.

Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching

• Means “Classic Way of Power”Means “Classic Way of Power”

• Intended to provide guidance for Intended to provide guidance for rulers which wished to govern rulers which wished to govern according to Tao or “The Way”according to Tao or “The Way”

• Written in MAXIMSWritten in MAXIMS

• Uses parallel language Uses parallel language

Anecdotes = brief storiesAnecdotes = brief stories

Refer to your text p.357 for Refer to your text p.357 for examples of Taoist anecdotes.examples of Taoist anecdotes.

400 B.C. – 100 B.C.400 B.C. – 100 B.C.

• Taoist anecdotes Taoist anecdotes are createdare created

• Tao Te ChingTao Te Ching

• ““Classic of the Classic of the

Way of Power”Way of Power”

Refer here to p.356 in your Refer here to p.356 in your text to read an example from text to read an example from the Tao Te Ching.the Tao Te Ching.

ConfuciusConfucius

• Main Entry: Con·fu·ciusMain Entry: Con·fu·cius

• Pronunciation: \kən-ˈfyü-shəs\Pronunciation: \kən-ˈfyü-shəs\

• Variant(s): Chinese K'ung–Fu–tzu \Variant(s): Chinese K'ung–Fu–tzu \ˈkuSŋ-ˈfü-ˈdzü\ or K'ung–tzu \kuSŋ-ˈdzü\ˈkuSŋ-ˈfü-ˈdzü\ or K'ung–tzu \kuSŋ-ˈdzü\

• Function: biographical nameFunction: biographical name

• 551–479 b.c. Chinese philosopher551–479 b.c. Chinese philosopher

479 B.C.479 B.C.Confucious died.Confucious died.

The AnalectsThe Analects

• Based on Confucius’ teachingsBased on Confucius’ teachings

• Written as maximsWritten as maxims

• Confucius believed that studying Confucius believed that studying ancient teachings enabled people to ancient teachings enabled people to join the continuous minds from the join the continuous minds from the past to their own timepast to their own time

MaximMaxim

brief statementbrief statement

chung-yungchung-yung

““the golden mean’the golden mean’

the concept of universal and the concept of universal and moral social harmonymoral social harmony

The Analects teach:The Analects teach:

• Individuals how to achieve Individuals how to achieve moderation in all things through moderation in all things through moral education, moral education,

• the building of a harmonious family the building of a harmonious family life,life,

• and the development of virtues such and the development of virtues such as loyalty, obedience, and integrityas loyalty, obedience, and integrity

The Analects emphasize:The Analects emphasize:

• Filial pietyFilial piety– The carrying out of basic obligations to The carrying out of basic obligations to

one’s living parents or dead ancestorsone’s living parents or dead ancestors

Analects of Confucius - Analects of Confucius - reviewreview • Died 479 B.C.Died 479 B.C.

• Disciples wrote down Disciples wrote down his sayings after his his sayings after his deathdeath

• Analects – selected Analects – selected sayingssayings

• Maxims – brief sayingsMaxims – brief sayings

• Golden mean – ideal Golden mean – ideal of universal moral and of universal moral and social harmonysocial harmony

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/21446-china-from-past-to-present-confucianism-video.htmhttp://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/21446-china-from-past-to-present-confucianism-video.htm

Refer to your text p.355 for Refer to your text p.355 for examples of maxims from examples of maxims from

The Analects.The Analects.

300 B.C. – 300 A.D.300 B.C. – 300 A.D.The Hindu Bhagavad-Gita is The Hindu Bhagavad-Gita is written.written.

Translated: Bhagavad-GitaTranslated: Bhagavad-Gitameans “Song of the Lord”means “Song of the Lord”

The Bhagavad-Gita is an episode of The Bhagavad-Gita is an episode of a larger story called the a larger story called the

Mahabharata (the longest poem Mahabharata (the longest poem ever composed in any language).ever composed in any language).

Also called The Gita.Also called The Gita.

KrishnaKrishna

The GitaThe Gita

• This ancient poem played a major This ancient poem played a major role in shaping the philosophy of:role in shaping the philosophy of:– Mahatma Ghandi (the social reformer Mahatma Ghandi (the social reformer

who led India to independence from who led India to independence from Britain in 1947)Britain in 1947)

– Martin Luther King, Jr. who was Martin Luther King, Jr. who was influenced by Mahatma Ghandi’s influenced by Mahatma Ghandi’s philosophy of nonviolent protestphilosophy of nonviolent protest

didactic Versedidactic Verse

poetry meant to convey a poetry meant to convey a philosophyphilosophy

Dharma = Sacred DutyDharma = Sacred Duty

Refer to your text p.351 for Refer to your text p.351 for an excerpt from the an excerpt from the

Bhagavad- Gita.Bhagavad- Gita.

651 A.D. – 652 A.D.651 A.D. – 652 A.D.The Koran is written.The Koran is written.

For an excerpt from the For an excerpt from the Koran, refer to p.350 in the Koran, refer to p.350 in the

textbook.textbook.

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism

• Type of BuddhismType of Buddhism

• Started in China really developed in Started in China really developed in JapanJapan

• Objective: free the mind of Objective: free the mind of everyday, conventional logic through everyday, conventional logic through meditationmeditation

• Written in parablesWritten in parables

1191 A.D.1191 A.D.Zen is introduced to Japan.Zen is introduced to Japan.

Where is Japan?Where is Japan?

Zen VideosZen Videos

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK_4Z5DZcNM&feature=channelK_4Z5DZcNM&feature=channel (intro) (intro)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rh8Fc3ecd8&feature=channelh8Fc3ecd8&feature=channel (sitting) (sitting)

Miniature Zen GardenMiniature Zen Garden

Zen GardenZen Garden

parablesparables

brief allegorical Stories that teach brief allegorical Stories that teach lessons or morals about lifelessons or morals about life

Refer to p.353 in your text for examples Refer to p.353 in your text for examples of Zen parablesof Zen parables

Who is this?Who is this?

Refer to p.353 in your Refer to p.353 in your textbook to see examples of textbook to see examples of

Zen parables.Zen parables.

1213 A.D. – 1292 A.D.1213 A.D. – 1292 A.D.Saadi lives.Saadi lives.

SaadiSaadi

• Follower of a mystical sect of IslamFollower of a mystical sect of Islam• Definition: mystical - with divine Definition: mystical - with divine

meaning: having a divine meaning meaning: having a divine meaning that is beyond human understandingthat is beyond human understanding

• Believed in holiness of all creationBelieved in holiness of all creation• Sufism = a philosophy & a way of lifeSufism = a philosophy & a way of life• Persia’s best loved poet: witty, Persia’s best loved poet: witty,

practical sayings and lush lyricspractical sayings and lush lyrics

SufismSufism

– Withdraw from material worldWithdraw from material world– HomelessHomeless– Beg for their livingBeg for their living– Wander from place to place as they meditate Wander from place to place as they meditate

God’s loveGod’s love– Not attached to belongings or placesNot attached to belongings or places– Not driven by concerns of time, money, or Not driven by concerns of time, money, or

achievementachievement– Concentrated on 1) the development of the Concentrated on 1) the development of the

human mind 2) on reaching a higher plane of human mind 2) on reaching a higher plane of understanding through a gradual process of understanding through a gradual process of thought and practicethought and practice

To see examples of Saadi’s To see examples of Saadi’s sayings, refer to p.358 in the sayings, refer to p.358 in the

textbook.textbook.

proverbsproverbs

a short saying that expresses a a short saying that expresses a common truth or experience, common truth or experience,

usually about human failings and usually about human failings and the ways that people interact with the ways that people interact with

one anotherone another

allegoryallegory

a story in which the a story in which the characters, settings, and characters, settings, and

events stand for abstract or events stand for abstract or moral conceptsmoral concepts

Worlds of WisdomWorlds of Wisdom

What kind of wisdom What kind of wisdom

can youcan you

pass on to pass on to

future generations?future generations?