I just got an email from Michael Shaffer about revising the CAS system:
Alex El Nabli and I have been getting together this summer and have been working on formulating a new CAS system. We noticed that last year, many of the people in both classes (myself included) rushed to finish CAS hours documentation and reflections and the whole point of the system was defeated by the crazy rush at the end (not to mentionall the extra work for Cunha). We've been working on a system that will be more like the extended essay system that is already in place. It will be essentially a two year program where the student creates their own, idividual service project that includes two or three of the Creativity, Action and Service components. In addition, there will be a teacher superviser, much like in the extended essay, that helps and guides the student in the formulation and implementation of their project. Although we thought the service people did to get their hours (rebuilding together, catholic worker, eagles for choc, ect.) was worthwhile, we felt that the students would get more out of the projects (and have a better time) if they were based around something the students really cared about. Because of this, the new system we developed is based around the student developing their own project about what they enjoy and care about. There are still many aspects of the program to be worked out, but for the most part, we have the essential groundwork in place.
Last week, Alex and I met with Alexander to discuss the idea. To this point she had no idea what we were working on, so we were a little nevous about meeting with her, but she was really excited about the idea and wanted to really look into initiating it. Her idea was to have a few (4-6) poeple form our class develop projects like those in the program (albiet smaller) in order to create a model for the classes following us to follow as well as to really figure out the system. We also considered intiating the program on an optional basis.
19 July 2007
11 May 2007
AP and IB Bio Exams
I posted the links to some old IB and AP Exams at http://groups.google.com/group/smchsib/browse_thread/thread/128df8e4bcc21c3b?hl=en
24 April 2007
Old Math Methods SL IB Exams
I have posted some old Math Methods SL IB exams from previous years at http://smchsib.divshare.com/
If you have trouble accessing them, please let me know.
If you have trouble accessing them, please let me know.
15 January 2007
Philosophy Terms Chapter 4: Plato
Socrates- Socrates was an ethical philosopher whose teaching deeply impressed Plato. When a new faction came to power in Athens, Socrates came under suspicion because of his association with certain people. He was brought to trial and condemned to death in 399 BCE on the charge of subverting the state religion and corrupting the young. Socrates’ method of arguing and teaching was akin in some ways to the Sophists of his day, but he charged no fees for his teaching and he concerned himself with fundamental philosophical and ethical questions. His great inspiring idea was that we can come to know the right way to live, if only we will use our reason properly. He has been called the “grandfather of philosophy,” not so much for the conclusions he reached, but rather for pioneering the method of using rational argument and inquiry in an open-minded, non-dogmatic way. Famously, Socrates claimed superiority to unthinking people only in that he was aware of his own ignorance about so many difficult matters, whereas they only thought they knew. He was adept at showing by persistent questioning that they did not know what they claimed to know. Socrates felt called with a kind of religious intensity to disturb people’s mental complacency. (c.f. S&H)
Sophists- They were self-styled experts who offered, for a fee, to impart certain kinds of skill, in particular rhetoric, which was important for political advancement in Athens. They also discussed ethics and politics. The Athenians were aware of the variety of beliefs and practices in various cultures around the Mediterranean, so they were confronted with the question of whether there is any criterion of truth in these matters. The Sophists often expressed skepticism about whether moral and political values were anything more than arbitrary conventions. (c.f. S&H)
Dialogues- Dialogues are reciprocal conversations or conversational forms of writing between several characters, such as in the Republic. (c.f. S&H in conjunction with Wikipedia)
Eidos- Greek word meaning "image", "form", or "shape". Plato used it to refer to the ideal Forms or Ideas in his theory of forms.
The "Cave"- A metaphor that is meant to illustrate the effects of education on the human soul. Socrates describes a scene where there are prisoners in a dark cave and they are bound so they cannot look to either side or behind them. Behind them is a fire which casts shadows on the wall the prisoners are facing. The prisoners watch the stories that these shadows play out, and because these shadows are all they ever get to see, they believe them to be the most real things in the world. These prisoners represent the lowest stage on the line—imagination. A prisoner is freed from his bonds, and is forced to look at the fire. He realized that the shadows are just copies of real things.This stage in the cave represents belief. Next he is dragged out of the cave into the world above. At first, he is so amazed by the light up there that he can only look at shadows, then at reflections, then finally at the real objects. He has now reached the cognitive stage of thought. He has caught his first glimpse of the most real things, the Forms.When the prisoner’s eyes have fully adjusted to the brightness, he lifts his sight toward the heavens and looks at the sun. He understands that the sun is the cause of everything he sees around him. The sun represents the Form of the good and the former prisoner has reached the stage of understanding.
Knowledge- According to Plato, knowledge can only pertain to eternal unchanging truths.For this reason, only the intelligible realm, the realm of the Forms can be the object of knowledge.
Opinion- Since only eternal, unchanging truths can be the objects of knowledge, all other truths are relegated to opinion. Opinion is the highest form of certainty that we can hope for when it comes to the visible realm, the realm of sensible particulars.
Form of the Good- Exists in the Realm of Forms; the Idea of the Good is the child or offspring (ekgonos) of the Good, the ideal or perfect nature of goodness
Reason- part of the tripartite view of the soul: desire for honor, desire for material, and desire for reason or wisdom.
Spirit: Plato advocates the belief in a just, tripartite soul that is:
appetitive
spirited
rational
Appetitive: the part of our soul that lusts after food, drink, sex, and so on (and after money, most of all, since money is the means of satisfying the rest of these desires)
Philosopher- citizens of Plato's society which have undergone many years of education to attain understanding of justice.
Guardians- similar to philosopher-kings, they are the upper echelon of the mentally adept and are the epitome of wisdom.
Appetite- in the example of the thirsty man, this is the part of him which wants to drink. This part of the psyche includes all physical urges.
Myth of Er- The story in Book X which details the immateriality and immorality of the soul.
Justice- Plato identifies political justice as harmony in a structured political body it is a principle of specialization that requires that each person fulfill the societal role to which nature fitted him and not interfere in any other business. Individual justice occurs when the three parts of a soul (rational, spirited, and appetitive) achieve the required relationships of power and influence in regard to one another
Timarchy (imperfect) - Honor and fame are valued above all reason and philosophical understanding are neglected; spirit is dominant in society
Oligarchy (imperfect)- money making is dominant activity, power comes with wealth; rational and spirited parts of soul are subject to appetitive
Democracy- may arise by poor majority seizing power; every adult male citizen may vote; democratic person lacks discipline, pursues pleasures of the moment
Tyranny- self explanatory, a government based upon a single leader, or tyrant, who controls all aspects of the government and its people. Plato says that tyranny is the worst form of government as the ruler must become miserable to rule, and thus the people will be miserable.
Aristocracy- the "high class", aristocracy represents the greedy and luxurious class that Plato denounces and claims as the cause of many problems.
Anarchy- Complete chaos, in which there is no organized rule and people are left in a primative state of fending for themselves.
Sophists- They were self-styled experts who offered, for a fee, to impart certain kinds of skill, in particular rhetoric, which was important for political advancement in Athens. They also discussed ethics and politics. The Athenians were aware of the variety of beliefs and practices in various cultures around the Mediterranean, so they were confronted with the question of whether there is any criterion of truth in these matters. The Sophists often expressed skepticism about whether moral and political values were anything more than arbitrary conventions. (c.f. S&H)
Dialogues- Dialogues are reciprocal conversations or conversational forms of writing between several characters, such as in the Republic. (c.f. S&H in conjunction with Wikipedia)
Eidos- Greek word meaning "image", "form", or "shape". Plato used it to refer to the ideal Forms or Ideas in his theory of forms.
The "Cave"- A metaphor that is meant to illustrate the effects of education on the human soul. Socrates describes a scene where there are prisoners in a dark cave and they are bound so they cannot look to either side or behind them. Behind them is a fire which casts shadows on the wall the prisoners are facing. The prisoners watch the stories that these shadows play out, and because these shadows are all they ever get to see, they believe them to be the most real things in the world. These prisoners represent the lowest stage on the line—imagination. A prisoner is freed from his bonds, and is forced to look at the fire. He realized that the shadows are just copies of real things.This stage in the cave represents belief. Next he is dragged out of the cave into the world above. At first, he is so amazed by the light up there that he can only look at shadows, then at reflections, then finally at the real objects. He has now reached the cognitive stage of thought. He has caught his first glimpse of the most real things, the Forms.When the prisoner’s eyes have fully adjusted to the brightness, he lifts his sight toward the heavens and looks at the sun. He understands that the sun is the cause of everything he sees around him. The sun represents the Form of the good and the former prisoner has reached the stage of understanding.
Knowledge- According to Plato, knowledge can only pertain to eternal unchanging truths.For this reason, only the intelligible realm, the realm of the Forms can be the object of knowledge.
Opinion- Since only eternal, unchanging truths can be the objects of knowledge, all other truths are relegated to opinion. Opinion is the highest form of certainty that we can hope for when it comes to the visible realm, the realm of sensible particulars.
Form of the Good- Exists in the Realm of Forms; the Idea of the Good is the child or offspring (ekgonos) of the Good, the ideal or perfect nature of goodness
Reason- part of the tripartite view of the soul: desire for honor, desire for material, and desire for reason or wisdom.
Spirit: Plato advocates the belief in a just, tripartite soul that is:
appetitive
spirited
rational
Appetitive: the part of our soul that lusts after food, drink, sex, and so on (and after money, most of all, since money is the means of satisfying the rest of these desires)
Philosopher- citizens of Plato's society which have undergone many years of education to attain understanding of justice.
Guardians- similar to philosopher-kings, they are the upper echelon of the mentally adept and are the epitome of wisdom.
Appetite- in the example of the thirsty man, this is the part of him which wants to drink. This part of the psyche includes all physical urges.
Myth of Er- The story in Book X which details the immateriality and immorality of the soul.
Justice- Plato identifies political justice as harmony in a structured political body it is a principle of specialization that requires that each person fulfill the societal role to which nature fitted him and not interfere in any other business. Individual justice occurs when the three parts of a soul (rational, spirited, and appetitive) achieve the required relationships of power and influence in regard to one another
Timarchy (imperfect) - Honor and fame are valued above all reason and philosophical understanding are neglected; spirit is dominant in society
Oligarchy (imperfect)- money making is dominant activity, power comes with wealth; rational and spirited parts of soul are subject to appetitive
Democracy- may arise by poor majority seizing power; every adult male citizen may vote; democratic person lacks discipline, pursues pleasures of the moment
Tyranny- self explanatory, a government based upon a single leader, or tyrant, who controls all aspects of the government and its people. Plato says that tyranny is the worst form of government as the ruler must become miserable to rule, and thus the people will be miserable.
Aristocracy- the "high class", aristocracy represents the greedy and luxurious class that Plato denounces and claims as the cause of many problems.
Anarchy- Complete chaos, in which there is no organized rule and people are left in a primative state of fending for themselves.
Philosophy Terms Chapter 3: Judaism and Christianity
C.E. – Common Era starting the year Jesus was born. CE can be used simultaneously with AD. Canon (of scripture) – a list published by a religious authority of those books of the Bible that are considered inspired by God. The differing criteria and processes of canonization dictate what the communities regard as the inspired books of the Bible. The making of a New Testament canon was an important step in stabilizing the early Christian Church.
Apocrypha – any collection of scriptural texts that falls outside the canon. It also applied to writings that were hidden not because of their divinity but because of their questionable value to the church.
Talmud - a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. It has two components: the Mishnah, the first written compendium of Judaism's Oral Law; and the Gemara, a discussion of the Mishnah and Tannaitic writings. The terms Talmud and Gemara are used interchangeably. The whole Talmud is traditionally also referred to as Shas (a Hebrew abbreviation of shishah sedarim, the "six orders" of the Mishnah).
Mishnah- A major source of rabbinic Judaism’s religious texts. It is the first recording of the oral law of the Jewish people, as championed by the Pharisees, and is considered the first work of Rabbinic Judaism.
Qu’ran-Literally "the recitation"; is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe the Qur'ān, in its original Arabic, to be the literal word of God[2] that was revealed to Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years[3] until his death, and believe it to be God's final revelation to humanity[4][5]. Muslims regard the Qur'ān as a continuation to other divine messages that have started with those revealed to Adam - the first prophet - and including Suhuf-i-Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham/Ibrahim)[6], the Tawrat (Torah)[7][8], the Zabur (Psalms)[9][10], and the Injil (Gospel)[11][12][13], in between. The aforementioned books are recognized in the Qur'ān [14][15], but directs Muslims to follow the Qur'ān--the last and final message.
Aramaic-a group of Semitic languages with a 3,000-year history. It has been the language of administration of empires and the language of divine worship. It is the original language of large sections of the biblical books of Daniel and Ezra, and is the main language of the Talmud. Aramaic is believed to have been the native language of Jesus. Modern Aramaic is spoken today as a first language by numerous, scattered communities, most significantly by Assyrians. The language is considered to be endangered. Aramaic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family. Within that diverse family, it belongs to the Semitic subfamily. Aramaic is a part of the Northwest Semitic group of languages, which also includes the Canaanite languages (such as Hebrew).
Elohim-a Hebrew word which expresses concepts of divinity. Elohim is the third word in the Hebrew text of Genesis and occurs frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible. Its exact significance is often disputed. it acts as a singular noun in Hebrew grammar, and is then generally understood to denote the single God of Israel. In other cases, Elohim acts as an ordinary plural of the word Eloah, and refers to the polytheistic notion of multiple gods
JHWH- the transliteration of the four letters Tetragrammaton representing the name of God in the Bible. This transliteration was only ever pronounced by the high priest in the Temple.
Tetragrammaton- Hebrew name for God: a four-letter Hebrew name for Godrevealed to Moses, usually written YHVH or YHWH (Exodus 3:13-14). OrthodoxJews regard this name as too sacred to be pronounced.
El Shaddai- fish in herring family: a fish similar to herring that spawnsupstream in rivers.
Ex Nihilo- from nothing: from or out of nothing
Image of God - the theological doctrine that asserts that human beings are created in God's image and therefore have inherent value independent of their utility or function
Sin - an act of preference for out own selfish will against God's will, and our consequent alimentation from Him
Original Sin - the general condition of sinfulness into which human being are born. Caused by Adam and Eve's disobedience and cured by baptism.
Covenant - a solemn promise between two individuals. In a religious sense, covenants are pacts made between God and his people. ex. Abraham's descendents would be as numerous as the stars
Chosenness- A term that refers to the act of God choosing which people he is to be in contact with and which people will be saved and which will not be saved. The term is usually identified with the Jewish people who God leads throughout the Bible.
Messiah- The Judaic term refers to the coming of a God-appointed savior. The term is meant to describe the figure that will fulfill the promise made by God to the Jews of a deliverer of the Jewish people. The Christian term refers to Jesus, who has fulfilled the expectation and promise of God
Son of God- A term that refers to Jesus as the Son of God. This term is used to make Jesus appear as a godly figure who is superior to humanity; to express Jesus as a divine being.
Son of Man- A term that refers to Jesus as the Son of God. This term differs from the Son of God because it describes Jesus as a mortal figure that has human characteristics. The reason for this description is used to make Jesus appear more human-like so that humanity can relate and identify with Jesus as a more realistic figure.
Incarnation- Christian doctrine that says that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine; here is how S & H summarizes:
Jesus is the "Word of God made flesh. But the main idea of incarnation, that God was uniquely present in Jesus, seems definitive of Christianity"
Kingdom of God- S & H argues both ways on this concept; on the one hand, it describes Jesus' promise of the Kingdom of God to those who have faith. So along these lines, the book articulates that Christians expect resurrection, although the Bible does not specifically say a life after death, only the Kingdom of God. So the book asks how to interpret this. It is certain that this Kingdom is one of moral rightness and truth, but it is unknown whether life actually continues. This brings us to the other side of the argument. The book reminds us that even in the New Testament there is a lot of warning of final judgment and punishment for the wicked. Therefore, the conclusion of S & H's treatment of this topic is that Christians depend on a resurrection to the Kingdom of God, as promised by Jesus, but we cannot know exactly what this will entail.
Paschal Mystery- The Paschal Mystery is the life of Jesus- his suffering, death, and resurrection (Paschal as in he is the Paschal lamb, or sacrificial lamb for our sake); this mystery is celebrated in the Eucharist when we take into ourselves Jesus as the sacrifice for our salvation. The Paschal Mystery is God's gift of love to us.
Salvation/savior- there are several differing opinions about what is necessary for salvation. S & H concludes (from Ephesians in the Bible) that although we are supposed to do good works, our salvation ultimately comes from the free grace of God, not our actions. We choose to accept this grace, and therefore trust in God. With regards to savior, Christianity and Judaism differ. Christians recognize Jesus as Messiah who already brought salvation. Jews regard Jesus as prophet, not Messiah, and await a coming salvation from the Messiah who has not yet come. So the approaches differ depending on which religion you are talking about.
Atonement- in Christian belief, the reconciliation between God and people brought about by the death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness
Regeneration- in religion the spiritual renewal of somebody
Sanctification- to bless, give grace, or free somebody from sin; usually through an oath or vow
Resurrected body/life- the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead after his crucifixion and entombment; the rising of the dead on Judgment Day
Holy Spirit- The Holy Spirit is the third component of the Christian Trinity– God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (c. indirectly f. S&H).The word “spirit” comes from the Greek pneuma. In Christianity, followingthe New Testament, the Holy Spirit is the One who guides a person tocorrectly interpret the word of God and He helps each person reach newlevels of understanding. Since He knows each person perfectly and it isunderstood that people think differently, He can transfer information topeople in ways that they would comprehend it. (c.f. Wikipedia).
Apocrypha – any collection of scriptural texts that falls outside the canon. It also applied to writings that were hidden not because of their divinity but because of their questionable value to the church.
Talmud - a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history. It has two components: the Mishnah, the first written compendium of Judaism's Oral Law; and the Gemara, a discussion of the Mishnah and Tannaitic writings. The terms Talmud and Gemara are used interchangeably. The whole Talmud is traditionally also referred to as Shas (a Hebrew abbreviation of shishah sedarim, the "six orders" of the Mishnah).
Mishnah- A major source of rabbinic Judaism’s religious texts. It is the first recording of the oral law of the Jewish people, as championed by the Pharisees, and is considered the first work of Rabbinic Judaism.
Qu’ran-Literally "the recitation"; is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe the Qur'ān, in its original Arabic, to be the literal word of God[2] that was revealed to Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years[3] until his death, and believe it to be God's final revelation to humanity[4][5]. Muslims regard the Qur'ān as a continuation to other divine messages that have started with those revealed to Adam - the first prophet - and including Suhuf-i-Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham/Ibrahim)[6], the Tawrat (Torah)[7][8], the Zabur (Psalms)[9][10], and the Injil (Gospel)[11][12][13], in between. The aforementioned books are recognized in the Qur'ān [14][15], but directs Muslims to follow the Qur'ān--the last and final message.
Aramaic-a group of Semitic languages with a 3,000-year history. It has been the language of administration of empires and the language of divine worship. It is the original language of large sections of the biblical books of Daniel and Ezra, and is the main language of the Talmud. Aramaic is believed to have been the native language of Jesus. Modern Aramaic is spoken today as a first language by numerous, scattered communities, most significantly by Assyrians. The language is considered to be endangered. Aramaic belongs to the Afro-Asiatic language family. Within that diverse family, it belongs to the Semitic subfamily. Aramaic is a part of the Northwest Semitic group of languages, which also includes the Canaanite languages (such as Hebrew).
Elohim-a Hebrew word which expresses concepts of divinity. Elohim is the third word in the Hebrew text of Genesis and occurs frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible. Its exact significance is often disputed. it acts as a singular noun in Hebrew grammar, and is then generally understood to denote the single God of Israel. In other cases, Elohim acts as an ordinary plural of the word Eloah, and refers to the polytheistic notion of multiple gods
JHWH- the transliteration of the four letters Tetragrammaton representing the name of God in the Bible. This transliteration was only ever pronounced by the high priest in the Temple.
Tetragrammaton- Hebrew name for God: a four-letter Hebrew name for Godrevealed to Moses, usually written YHVH or YHWH (Exodus 3:13-14). OrthodoxJews regard this name as too sacred to be pronounced.
El Shaddai- fish in herring family: a fish similar to herring that spawnsupstream in rivers.
Ex Nihilo- from nothing: from or out of nothing
Image of God - the theological doctrine that asserts that human beings are created in God's image and therefore have inherent value independent of their utility or function
Sin - an act of preference for out own selfish will against God's will, and our consequent alimentation from Him
Original Sin - the general condition of sinfulness into which human being are born. Caused by Adam and Eve's disobedience and cured by baptism.
Covenant - a solemn promise between two individuals. In a religious sense, covenants are pacts made between God and his people. ex. Abraham's descendents would be as numerous as the stars
Chosenness- A term that refers to the act of God choosing which people he is to be in contact with and which people will be saved and which will not be saved. The term is usually identified with the Jewish people who God leads throughout the Bible.
Messiah- The Judaic term refers to the coming of a God-appointed savior. The term is meant to describe the figure that will fulfill the promise made by God to the Jews of a deliverer of the Jewish people. The Christian term refers to Jesus, who has fulfilled the expectation and promise of God
Son of God- A term that refers to Jesus as the Son of God. This term is used to make Jesus appear as a godly figure who is superior to humanity; to express Jesus as a divine being.
Son of Man- A term that refers to Jesus as the Son of God. This term differs from the Son of God because it describes Jesus as a mortal figure that has human characteristics. The reason for this description is used to make Jesus appear more human-like so that humanity can relate and identify with Jesus as a more realistic figure.
Incarnation- Christian doctrine that says that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine; here is how S & H summarizes:
Jesus is the "Word of God made flesh. But the main idea of incarnation, that God was uniquely present in Jesus, seems definitive of Christianity"
Kingdom of God- S & H argues both ways on this concept; on the one hand, it describes Jesus' promise of the Kingdom of God to those who have faith. So along these lines, the book articulates that Christians expect resurrection, although the Bible does not specifically say a life after death, only the Kingdom of God. So the book asks how to interpret this. It is certain that this Kingdom is one of moral rightness and truth, but it is unknown whether life actually continues. This brings us to the other side of the argument. The book reminds us that even in the New Testament there is a lot of warning of final judgment and punishment for the wicked. Therefore, the conclusion of S & H's treatment of this topic is that Christians depend on a resurrection to the Kingdom of God, as promised by Jesus, but we cannot know exactly what this will entail.
Paschal Mystery- The Paschal Mystery is the life of Jesus- his suffering, death, and resurrection (Paschal as in he is the Paschal lamb, or sacrificial lamb for our sake); this mystery is celebrated in the Eucharist when we take into ourselves Jesus as the sacrifice for our salvation. The Paschal Mystery is God's gift of love to us.
Salvation/savior- there are several differing opinions about what is necessary for salvation. S & H concludes (from Ephesians in the Bible) that although we are supposed to do good works, our salvation ultimately comes from the free grace of God, not our actions. We choose to accept this grace, and therefore trust in God. With regards to savior, Christianity and Judaism differ. Christians recognize Jesus as Messiah who already brought salvation. Jews regard Jesus as prophet, not Messiah, and await a coming salvation from the Messiah who has not yet come. So the approaches differ depending on which religion you are talking about.
Atonement- in Christian belief, the reconciliation between God and people brought about by the death of Jesus Christ, forgiveness
Regeneration- in religion the spiritual renewal of somebody
Sanctification- to bless, give grace, or free somebody from sin; usually through an oath or vow
Resurrected body/life- the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead after his crucifixion and entombment; the rising of the dead on Judgment Day
Holy Spirit- The Holy Spirit is the third component of the Christian Trinity– God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (c. indirectly f. S&H).The word “spirit” comes from the Greek pneuma. In Christianity, followingthe New Testament, the Holy Spirit is the One who guides a person tocorrectly interpret the word of God and He helps each person reach newlevels of understanding. Since He knows each person perfectly and it isunderstood that people think differently, He can transfer information topeople in ways that they would comprehend it. (c.f. Wikipedia).
Philosophy Terms Chapter 2: Upanishadic Hinduism
Pantheism- God in all things
Polytheism– Belief in many gods
Consciousness (its role in creation)– Brahma, the Supreme Being, became conscious of his lacking, and thus decided to split in half, half male and half female. Without Brahma attaining a level of consciousness, the world would not have come into being.
Rupa– rupa is the term for the two aspects of brahman. These forms are the form and the formless.
Murta- the aspect of brahman that has form and a fixed shape
Amurta- the aspect of brahman that is formless and without a fixed shape
Neti neti- "not this, not that;" means that brahman is completely beyond the world we experience with the senses
Ahamkara- the self as ego; the body and its social environment; the transitory self separate from other selves; different from the ultimate self and true identity of a human being
Moksha-liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth and all the suffering and limitation entailed in embodied worldly experience
Reincarnation- literally “to be made flesh again”; rebirth into a new life; movement from one body to another
Enlightenment-broadly means the acquisition of new wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception (one achieves moksha through enlightenment)
Vedanta- a school of philosophy within Hinduism dealing with the nature of reality. The word Vedanta is a compound of veda “knowledge” and anta “end, conclusion” translating to “the culmination of the Vedas.”
Polytheism– Belief in many gods
Consciousness (its role in creation)– Brahma, the Supreme Being, became conscious of his lacking, and thus decided to split in half, half male and half female. Without Brahma attaining a level of consciousness, the world would not have come into being.
Rupa– rupa is the term for the two aspects of brahman. These forms are the form and the formless.
Murta- the aspect of brahman that has form and a fixed shape
Amurta- the aspect of brahman that is formless and without a fixed shape
Neti neti- "not this, not that;" means that brahman is completely beyond the world we experience with the senses
Ahamkara- the self as ego; the body and its social environment; the transitory self separate from other selves; different from the ultimate self and true identity of a human being
Moksha-liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth and all the suffering and limitation entailed in embodied worldly experience
Reincarnation- literally “to be made flesh again”; rebirth into a new life; movement from one body to another
Enlightenment-broadly means the acquisition of new wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception (one achieves moksha through enlightenment)
Vedanta- a school of philosophy within Hinduism dealing with the nature of reality. The word Vedanta is a compound of veda “knowledge” and anta “end, conclusion” translating to “the culmination of the Vedas.”
Philosophy Terms Chapter 1: Confucianism
Confucius- a famous Chinese thinker and social philosopher, whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced East Asian life and thought. His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity.
Lun Yu- Chinese for the analects (pin yin)
Analects- The Analects, also known as the Analects of Confucius, are a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples, as well as the discussions they held. The Chinese title literally means "discussion over [Confucius'] words."
T’ien Ming- The Mandate of Heaven (天命 Pīnyīn: Tiānmìng) was a traditional Chinese concept of legitimacy used to support the rule of the kings of the Zhou Dynasty and later the Emperors of China. Heaven would bless the authority of a just ruler, but Heaven would be displeased with an unwise ruler and give the Mandate to someone else.
Tao- The Way of the sages. Intimately linked to the concept of Heaven. Involves the path of proper conduct. Can be known through the previous acts of sages.
Sage- One who acts NATURALLY with extreme benevolence by means of education, self discipline and practice. One who naturally acts in accordance with the Decree of Heavan and provides an example for others to follow (tao). Behavoir is a natural expression of an inner perfected self
Chun-tzu- Gentlemen
Gentlemen- that for which Confucianism exhorts all people to strive. A succinct description of the "perfect man" is one who "combine[s] the qualities of saint, scholar, and gentleman"; A state wherein perfect moral action BECOMES natural and spontaneous. Expected to act as moral guides to the rest of society BY MODELING THEMSELVES AFTER SAGES.
They were to:
cultivate themselves morally participate in the correct performance of ritual show filial piety and loyalty where these are due cultivate humaneness The Silver Rule- This is balanced consideration for others and oneself. “Do unto others as you would have done to yourself.” “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.”
Jen- benevolence, translated as “humaneness”
Benevolence- (jen) the most important virtue that a human can posses. To embody benevolence is to achieve moral perfection. It is within the reach of human beings. This virtue is very rare in the world. Elf discipline is the prescription against the evils in the world. The ideal ruler rules by personal moral example. The state of benevolence has an inner serenity and is not affected by matters of fortune and misfortune. Moral integrity is the only thing within one’s control. It must be pursued.
Doing for Nothing- One must overcome the human tendency to work only for profit. It is doing what is right simply because it is morally right.
Cultivation of the Self- This addresses being a good family member.Transformation of society begins with the cultivation of the self within the family and then it ripples out to include all of society. Benevolence should be an extension of family love to everyone in society.
Filial Piety- A son who does not know how to treat his father will be a very poor citizen. The most important relationship is between son and father. A good son follows the ways of his father. The father of the family must rule by moral example.
Rectification of names- This is the first thing Confucius would do if he were to set up an administration. It means that there is an agreement between name and actuality, or between word and deed. For Confucius, a name carries certain implications that constitute the very essence of the named object. Each name implies certain attitudes and responsibilities. (ie. “son”implies more than biological relation) A lie is when there is no connection between word and actuality.
The Classics- The antidote for the ignorance of the past is study. The classics constitute a cultural legacy of the past. They are essential to Confucian learning. The classics give expression to the way of the sages and thus grant access to the exemplary conduct that leads to moral perfection.
The Rites- (Li) Knowledge key to ethical action. This includes ceremonial rules such as making offerings to the ancestors. The rites are designed to teach individuals how to act well. The rites are a body of rules culled from past moral insights and guide action toward perfection.Li- (the rites)
Mencius- “Idealistic View” Contended that human nature was originally good.He has the concept of the four seeds. The seeds of compassion, shame,courtesy, and sense of right and wrong develop into the four virtues of benevolence, dutifulness, observance of the rights, and wisdom.
Hsun-tzu- “Realistic View” Argued that human nature is originally evil. He says that our interior world is dominated by dynamic impulses of desire. He believes in the four incipient tendencies for profit, envy, hatred, and desire which give rise to the four evils of strife, violence, crime,wantonness.
Lun Yu- Chinese for the analects (pin yin)
Analects- The Analects, also known as the Analects of Confucius, are a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius and his disciples, as well as the discussions they held. The Chinese title literally means "discussion over [Confucius'] words."
T’ien Ming- The Mandate of Heaven (天命 Pīnyīn: Tiānmìng) was a traditional Chinese concept of legitimacy used to support the rule of the kings of the Zhou Dynasty and later the Emperors of China. Heaven would bless the authority of a just ruler, but Heaven would be displeased with an unwise ruler and give the Mandate to someone else.
Tao- The Way of the sages. Intimately linked to the concept of Heaven. Involves the path of proper conduct. Can be known through the previous acts of sages.
Sage- One who acts NATURALLY with extreme benevolence by means of education, self discipline and practice. One who naturally acts in accordance with the Decree of Heavan and provides an example for others to follow (tao). Behavoir is a natural expression of an inner perfected self
Chun-tzu- Gentlemen
Gentlemen- that for which Confucianism exhorts all people to strive. A succinct description of the "perfect man" is one who "combine[s] the qualities of saint, scholar, and gentleman"; A state wherein perfect moral action BECOMES natural and spontaneous. Expected to act as moral guides to the rest of society BY MODELING THEMSELVES AFTER SAGES.
They were to:
Jen- benevolence, translated as “humaneness”
Benevolence- (jen) the most important virtue that a human can posses. To embody benevolence is to achieve moral perfection. It is within the reach of human beings. This virtue is very rare in the world. Elf discipline is the prescription against the evils in the world. The ideal ruler rules by personal moral example. The state of benevolence has an inner serenity and is not affected by matters of fortune and misfortune. Moral integrity is the only thing within one’s control. It must be pursued.
Doing for Nothing- One must overcome the human tendency to work only for profit. It is doing what is right simply because it is morally right.
Cultivation of the Self- This addresses being a good family member.Transformation of society begins with the cultivation of the self within the family and then it ripples out to include all of society. Benevolence should be an extension of family love to everyone in society.
Filial Piety- A son who does not know how to treat his father will be a very poor citizen. The most important relationship is between son and father. A good son follows the ways of his father. The father of the family must rule by moral example.
Rectification of names- This is the first thing Confucius would do if he were to set up an administration. It means that there is an agreement between name and actuality, or between word and deed. For Confucius, a name carries certain implications that constitute the very essence of the named object. Each name implies certain attitudes and responsibilities. (ie. “son”implies more than biological relation) A lie is when there is no connection between word and actuality.
The Classics- The antidote for the ignorance of the past is study. The classics constitute a cultural legacy of the past. They are essential to Confucian learning. The classics give expression to the way of the sages and thus grant access to the exemplary conduct that leads to moral perfection.
The Rites- (Li) Knowledge key to ethical action. This includes ceremonial rules such as making offerings to the ancestors. The rites are designed to teach individuals how to act well. The rites are a body of rules culled from past moral insights and guide action toward perfection.Li- (the rites)
Mencius- “Idealistic View” Contended that human nature was originally good.He has the concept of the four seeds. The seeds of compassion, shame,courtesy, and sense of right and wrong develop into the four virtues of benevolence, dutifulness, observance of the rights, and wisdom.
Hsun-tzu- “Realistic View” Argued that human nature is originally evil. He says that our interior world is dominated by dynamic impulses of desire. He believes in the four incipient tendencies for profit, envy, hatred, and desire which give rise to the four evils of strife, violence, crime,wantonness.
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