Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Room 271
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Epistemology, Chinese Buddhism, Poetry
Abstract
While the Eastern and Western philosophical traditions are often perceived to be at odds with one another, by and large this is a result of a difference in approach and focus. Case in point, within George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s text, Philosophy in the Flesh, they challenge often overlooked assumptions within epistemology through argument and empirical data. They make the case that, much like the regulation of the heart or lungs, the mechanisms behind thought take place unconsciously. If true, this would imply that we cannot recognize the way we form our thoughts or use language. That is why the full title of their text is actually, Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought. However, there is a certain irony to this title, as it claims to challenge Western thought while remaining very much within its tradition. In the Eastern philosophical perception, introspection is the focus. Especially in the case of Chinese Buddhism, mental reflection, control, and cultivation are all essential for progression. Though it is far from a simple task, the monks and nuns of Chinese Buddhism claim that with diligence, anyone may gain awareness of their cognitive processes. In particular, poetry from Buddhist masters acknowledges their form and use of language, but then encourages us to move beyond the illusion. Granted, in almost every case the corporeal human perception is inescapable, Chinese Buddhists serve as proof that, in reality, human beings can transcend our natural cognitive tendencies through diligence and strict self-discipline.
Recommended Citation
Littman, Sarah, "Epistemology through Buddhist Poetry: A Real Challenge to Western Thought" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 51.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/oralpresentations/51
Additional Mentoring Department
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Epistemology through Buddhist Poetry: A Real Challenge to Western Thought
SURC Room 271
While the Eastern and Western philosophical traditions are often perceived to be at odds with one another, by and large this is a result of a difference in approach and focus. Case in point, within George Lakoff and Mark Johnson’s text, Philosophy in the Flesh, they challenge often overlooked assumptions within epistemology through argument and empirical data. They make the case that, much like the regulation of the heart or lungs, the mechanisms behind thought take place unconsciously. If true, this would imply that we cannot recognize the way we form our thoughts or use language. That is why the full title of their text is actually, Philosophy in the Flesh: The Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought. However, there is a certain irony to this title, as it claims to challenge Western thought while remaining very much within its tradition. In the Eastern philosophical perception, introspection is the focus. Especially in the case of Chinese Buddhism, mental reflection, control, and cultivation are all essential for progression. Though it is far from a simple task, the monks and nuns of Chinese Buddhism claim that with diligence, anyone may gain awareness of their cognitive processes. In particular, poetry from Buddhist masters acknowledges their form and use of language, but then encourages us to move beyond the illusion. Granted, in almost every case the corporeal human perception is inescapable, Chinese Buddhists serve as proof that, in reality, human beings can transcend our natural cognitive tendencies through diligence and strict self-discipline.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dippmann, Jeffery