Philosophy

1. OBJECTIVES
• UNDERSTAND CONFUCIOUS’ PRINCIPLES AND
CONFUCIANISM
• KNOW THE TEACHINGS OF CONFUCIANISM
• EXPLAIN LAO TZU’S PHILOSOPHY AND THE TAOISM
TEACHINGS
• EXPLAIN THE TAO-TE-CHING
• EXPLAIN TAOISM AS A PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY
• UNDERSTAND THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM AND
HINDUISM

2. CONFUCIUS
• Translated as Kong Fu
Zi or K’ung-Fu-Tzu and
frequently referred to
as Kongz
• A Chinese born BC in
the City of Qufu, in
the Chinese State of
Lu, now part of
present-day Shandong
Province
• Believed to have been
conceived out of
wedlock
• His father was 70 and
his mother only 15
when he was born, and
his father died when
he was 3, and brought
up in poverty by his
mother
• He died at the age of
72 in 479 BC
HIS LIFE
• He travelled from
state to state getting
government jobs and
teaching his disciple
for most of his life
• Became a justice
minister in the State of
Lu but resigned after
several years because
he disapproved of the
politics of his king
HIS TEACHINGS
• His life history is
regarded as legendary
but with credibility
• His teaching has been
developed into a
system of philosophy
and embodied in the
following
• Analecto of
Confucius
• Classic Rites
• Spring and Autumn
Animals

3. The family is the basis for an ideal government
Being an ideal government, there should be a strong solidarity among the family members
Children should respect their elders, living or dead
Husbands should respect their wives
Politicians and rulers should be good models of the citizens, they should lead an exemplary lives
and be guided with moral principles
•“if right principle prevails through the empire, there would be no need for me to change the
state” (Analecto XVIII,6)
Human nature is essentially good
The Golden Rule
•“Do not do unto other what you do not want others done to yourself”
All men should observe carefully their duties toward State
Every man must possessed five virtues
•Kindness
•Uprightness
•Decorum
•Wisdom
•faithfulness
•Confucius teaching about the
philosophies of man was more practical
and ethical rather than religious
•He has little belief in the supernatural

4. LAO-TZU
HIS LIFE
HIS
TEACHINGS
• Not his real name but an honorific name
given to him which mean “Old Venerable
Master”
• The promoter of the school of Tao and
considered as the father of Taoism
together with his follower Chuong-Tzu
• Spelled as Lao-Tsu, Laotze, according to
legend, was born between 600 and 300 BC
in China
• He was a scholar who dedicated his life in
balancing his inner spirit, searching for a
way that would avoid the constant feudal
warfare and other conflicts that
disrupted society during his lifetime
• Held number of public offices such as
curator of the royal library in Loyang,
China
• He told Confucius:
•“Remember, just like the wind
blows whenever and wherever
it wants to, good times will
come and sometime, and
somewhere. Be neutral. Go
with the wind”

5. (Dao-De-Jing)
referred to as
“Maps of the Way”
or “Book of
Virtues”
“Tao”
means the
way of all life
“Te”
means the fit
use of life by
men
“Ching”
means text or
classics
Traditionally believed
written by Lao-Tzu, it’s
an ancient Chinese text
and the world’s most
translated classic next to
the Bible
It consist of 81
short chapters
37 chapters
form the first
part:
BOOK OF THE
WAY-TAO
44 chapters
form the
second part:
BOOK OF TE
YIN XI
The Guardian of
the Mountain Pass
The person to
whom this text
was dictated in
the 6th century
BC, and who was
also responsible
for writing or
carving it down
on bamboo slips
and handed it
down to future
generations

6. The Philosophy of this
Book Focused on the
Following Concepts:
WU
emptiness
WEI
non-doing
FU
return of all
things to
their origin
WU-WEI
Translated to
mean non-
interference or
non-doing,
action without
deeds or action
less activity
“live a simple life, be
free, be yourself, and
close to nature. Do these
things and you will be
wise and happy”
Meaning:
one should be
fluid and
changing, not to
never act, so as
to always adjust
oneself to any
circumstances
“what is of all things most yielding (water) can
overwhelm that which is of all things most hard
(rock)
being substance less it can enter even where
there is no space
that is how I know the value of action that is
action less
but there can be teaching without words
value in action that is action less
few indeed can understand

7. 1. Tao (path of the way) is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that
flows through all life
2. The Tao is a power that envelops, surrounds and flows through all things,
living and non-living
3. Each human being’s goal is to harmonize themselves with the Tao because
the Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the universes
 It embodies the harmony of approaches, such as that there would be no love
without hate; no light without darkness; no male without female
4. There is no God to hear man’s prayer or to act upon them. Man should
seek answers to life’s problem through inner meditation and outer
observation
5. Time is cyclical, not linear
6. Men should promote their health and vitality
7. The five main organs of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky
 Water, Fire, Wood, Metal, Earth
8. Each person must nurture the “CHI” (air) that has been given to them
9. Man should follow the art of “WU-WEI” which is to let nature take its
course
 Example: Allow river to flow towards the sea unimpeded, therefore no one should
erect a dam that will interfere with its flowing
10. A person should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before
making it
11. Be kind to other individuals because such action tends to be reciprocated
12. People are compassionate and good by nature and if left to their own
nature, they will show compassion without expecting a reward

8. SPIRITUAL WAY
OF DISCIPLINE
No seminary, curriculum,
examinations, and systematize
doctrines because it only put
people under a lot of stress
The masters spoke using
metaphors and comparisons, just
like Jesus in the New Testament
who used parables and sayings
They learned by following and
emulating the teaching, behaviors,
and attitude of their masters
YIN YANG
The most common graphic representation of
Taoist theology which represents the
balance of opposites in the universe
They believe that humans often intervene
in nature and upset the balance of Yin and
Yang, but when both opposites are equally
balance, all is calm, but when it’s
imbalance, there is confusion disarray
It serves as an aid that allows each person
to contemplate the state of his lives
It was developed as theology only in the 2nd century AD
Appropriating a variety of spiritual techniques associated with the objective of
immortality
When one is in harmony with the Tao through spiritual techniques, one is
believed to achieved physical immortality and admission to heavenly realms
inaccessible to the spirits of mere mortals

9. •Focused on nourishment, that is abstaining from foods that will only benefit the three
worms in the body (Disease, Old Age, Death)
DIETARY REGIMENS
•It can be finally achieved by nourishment of the “embryonic body” which become
immortal self after death
BREATH CONTROL
•The Tao must visualize the thousands of gods that inhabited the human body
(MICROCOSM) as they inhabited the universe (MACROCOSM)
MEDITATION
•The person must avoid ejaculation of semen during the secular act, it was believed
that semen (seminal fluid) could be mixed with breath to further nourish the
“embryonic body” or be forced back through the spinal passage to repair the brain
SEXUAL DISCIPLINE
•In Taoist, this can be obtained by both chemical experimentation (Wai-Tan) and a
theoretical internal alchemy (Nei-Tan).
•Old age can be energized by marriage of the cosmic Yin and Yang forces within the
body
ALCHEMY
•Also known as “FU” could be used for healing, protection from demons, and
communication with the immortal beings
USE OF MAGICAL TALISMAN
SEARCH FOR THE FABLED ISLE OF BLISS

10. Taoism evolved into a religious faith in 440 BC when it
was adopted as a state religion, and become one of
the three great religions in China, together with
Confucianism and Buddhism
Taoism’s support stopped when the Ching
Dynasty ended in 1911, and all of its heritage
was lost and destroyed during the next period
of warlordism
•When it came to power in 1949, religious freedom was
strictly prohibited
•It put the monks to manual labor, confiscated the
temples, and plundered treasures
•Several million monks were reduced to a number to
about 50,000 in 1960, and some even fled to other
places
THE COMMUNIST
GOVERNMENT
•When he was installed as China’s head in 1982, some
religious tolerance has been restored up to the present
time
DAO XIA-PING
•About 40,000 to 50,000 Taoists live in North America
•2,000 to 3,000 in Canada
•About 35 million to 50 million is primarily centered in
Taiwan
•Taoist has significant impact in these countries in areas
of acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine,
meditation (YOGA) and martial arts
2007 CENSUS OF
RELIGION

11. BUDDHISM
A major world religion found in Northeastern India
It is based on the teaching of Gautama Buddha
SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA
Also known as Buddha
BUDDHA
Means the “Enlightened One”
Doctrines Of Buddhism In General
DOCTRINE OF ANATMAN
SAMSARA
• Holds that human beings has stream of renewed existence or a repeated rebirth in the cycle of
phenomenal existence
SKANDHAS
• 5 aggregates or bundles which made up human existence
• Material body
• Feelings
• Perception
• Predisposition
• Karmic Tendencies
Believes in rebirth without transmigration
TRANSMIGRATION
• The supposed passage of the dead person's soul into another body at or after death
1. Rejected some aspects of
Hindu philosophy
2. Challenge the authority of
priesthood
3. Denies that an individual’s
spiritual worth is a matter of
birth
4. Opened the movement to all
members of all castes
 It has been very significant in
1. India
2. Sri Lanka
3. Cambodia
4. Myanmar
5. China
6. Japan
7. Taiwan
8. Tibet
9. Nepal
10. Mongolia
11. Korea
12. Vietnam

12.  DOCTRINE OF KARMA
 Consist of individual’s acts and their ethical
consequences
 UNIVERSAL JUSTICE
 Human actions lead to rebirth. That is good
deeds are rewarded and bad deeds are punished
 It operates as a natural law rather than divine
judgment, and determines a person’s species
 (a rebirth as a human, animal, ghost, a god,
etc)
 ENLIGHTENMENT
 only for human beings not to gods
 GOD ARE ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM
1. not creators of universe
2. not in control of human destinies
3. engrossed in their own pleasures in heaven
4. they are in the same predicament as men
and other creatures
5. they are subject to death and further
rebirth in lower states of existence
6. Prayer and sacrifice to them by man is of no
value
 DOCTRINE OF NIRVANA
 An individual is released from the cycle of continued
existence with its inherent sufferings by attaining
NIRVANA:
 An enlightened state of consciousness in which greed,
hatred, ignorance, etc that makes a person suffers
may be eliminated
 PARINIRVANA
 The final nirvana that can be attained at the moment
of death after the enlightened individual continue to
live, burning off any remaining karma
 BETTER REBIRTH
 The proximate goal of nirvana which serves as an
option for those who cannot pursue the ultimate goal
or final nirvana
 TO ATTAIN IT:
 Individual should fulfill his duties in society, observe
acts of charity, and comply with the 5 precepts or the
basic moral code of Buddhism: prohibition of killings,
stealing, harmful language, sexual misbehavior, and
the use of intoxicants
 4 VIRTUES TO ATTAIN FINAL NIRVANA or THE
PALACES OF BRAHMA
 Loving-Kindness
 Compassion
 Sympathetic Joy
 Equanimity

13. SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA’S LIFE
AND TEACHINGS
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
Core Of Buddha’s Enlightenment
 An oral teacher , who left no written
ideas of his works and teachings
 His teachings were later codified by
his followers
 Western scholars agreed that he was
born in the year 563 BC at Lumbini
near the present Indian-Nepal border
 He belonged to a wealthy family
being a son of a ruler of a petty
kingdom
 At the age of 29 he renounced
earthly pleasures and embarked on a
quest for peace and enlightenment,
seeking release from the cycle of
rebirths
 YOGA
 A Hindu discipline that promotes
spiritual unity with a supreme being
through a system of postures and
rituals, which he practiced
 SANGKA
 A monastic community of his disciples
whom he organized and spent the
rest of his life after his preaching and
wondering from place to place
1. LIFE IS SUFFERING
 Human existence is essentially
painful from the moment of birth to
the moment of death
 Death does not bring relief to a
person since life is cyclical, with
death leading to further rebirth
2. SUFFERING IS CAUSED BY IGNORANCE
 Man’s ignorance to the nature of
reality including his craving,
attachment and grasping of worldly
pleasures can cause his suffering
3. SUFFERING CAN BE ENDED
 By overcoming ignorance and
attachment to worldly pleasures,
man’s suffering can be ended
4. FULFILLMENT OF THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLF
PATH
 The path to the suppressing or
ending suffering is to observe the
Noble Eightfold Path
NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATHS
1. Right Views
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right-Mindedness
8. Right Contemplation
Category Of The
NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATHS
SOMADHI
 The 3 Cornerstone of Buddhist Faith
1. Morality
2. Wisdom
3. concentration

14.  Grown to become the world’s third largest religion,
after Christianity and Islam
 Claims about 900 million followers at present, and a
dominant religion in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and a
significant increase in Canada
 SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE:
a. It does not have a single founder
b. It does not have a specific theological system
c. It does not have a single system of morality
d. It does not have a central religious organization
 HINDUISM PHILOSOPHERS
 Mahatma Gandhi
 The most famous philosophers among them because of
his greatest contributions in Hinduism philosophy
 Ramakrishna
 Sarasvati
 Vivekananda
 BHAGAVAD GITA (Song of the Lord)
 The famous religious writing of the India tradition, a book
of the immense poem the MAHABARATA
 RAMAYANA
 Another important Hindu epic which has had
enormous influence in Hinduism philosophy and
religion
THE HINDU MAJOR CONCEPT OF MAN
1. REINCARNATION: The universal
belief of Hinduism is the belief in
REINCARNATION (to be born again)
and in the eternity of the soul or self
(Atman)
2. DHARMA: In human beings, eating,
sleeping, fear and sex are common to
man as well as animals. Without
DHARMA (restraint through moral
codes), men are no better than beasts
3. MAN IS DIVINE: To become divine,
man must embrace Dharma. In
embracing dharma, man must
renounce all worldly desires and
selfish actions by resorting to spiritual
practice to attain liberation
4. Man must rises from a heart to a
human level until he ascends to
godhood and become divine by also
accepting dharma
REASON WHY IT DIDN’T PROSPER
Because of its divine elements
absorbed into its teachings

15. 1. The Spring and Autumn Animals, The Analecto, and the _____ are
the records of Confucius’ teachings that have been developed
into a system of philosophy (Classic Rites)
2. An honorific name given to the Taoist’s founder which mean “Old
Venerable Master” (Lao-Tzu)
3. He became a justice minister in the State of Lu but resigned after
several years because he disapproved of the politics of his king
(Confucius)
4. The Tao must visualize the thousands of gods that inhabited the
human body as they inhabited the universe. This technique in
achieving mortality is known as (Meditation)
5. It means “the return of all things to their origin (Fu)
6. The statement “Do not do unto others what you do not want
others done to yourself” is popularly known as _____ (Golden
Rule)
7. The second part of the Tao-Te-Ching consisting of 44 chapters
are referred to as the _____ (Book of Te)
8. When he was installed as China’s head in 1982, some religious
tolerance has been restored up to the present time (Dao Xia-
Ping)
9. According to the Taoism philosophy, it is the first-cause of the
universe and a force that flows through all life (Tao)
10. The most common graphic representation of Taoist theology
which represents the balance of opposites in the universe (Ying
Yang)
1. Explain
elaborately
what you
understand by
the Four Noble
Truths
2. Do you think
that the
modern man
can achieve
the Noble
Eightfold Path?
Justify your
answer

16. 1. What is the meaning of the following terms?
1. Hedonism
2. Epicureanism
3. Utilitarianism
4. Consequentialism
5. Ataraxia
6. Aponia
2. Compare the three theories of philosophy in terms of their basic concept of
pleasure. Illustrate their differences by way of examples or illustration
3. Do you agree with the hedonistic view of life that the acquisition of pleasure
is the supreme end of man? Justify your answer
4. Compare Bentham and Mill concepts of the philosophy of human person
5. Explain the statement of the Epicureans that “the highest pleasure of man is
the tranquility or peace of mind and freedom from fear
6. How do you compare the philosophy of human person of Bentham as a
Hedonist and as Utilitarian?
7. According to the utilitarian concept, “death is not to be feared”? Do you
agree? Explain your answer
8. Compare the soul of gods and men. Use some examples to illustrate their
differences

17. 1. It is said that the trial and execution of Socrates are the
climax of his career. Do you agree? Support your answer
2. Explain the statement that according to Socrates, “the
highest form of human excellence is to question oneself
and others”
3. What is the Socratic method? Explain by illustration
4. In what sense is “virtue cannot be taught”? Explain your
answer
5. Do you agree that democracy is not the best form of
government, according to Socrates? Support your answer
6. Why do you think Pythagoras’ teachings were not put
down in writing
7. Do you agree in all the philosophical ideas of
Pythagoras? What are those that you agree? Disagree?
Why?