Universität Wien

140241 VO Introduction to the history of Jaina philosophy (2019W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 09.10. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 16.10. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 23.10. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 30.10. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 06.11. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 13.11. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 20.11. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 27.11. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 04.12. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 11.12. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 08.01. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 15.01. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 22.01. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34
  • Wednesday 29.01. 10:00 - 11:30 Seminarraum 5 ISTB UniCampus Hof 4 2C-O1-34

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

"The philosophy of the Jainas is characterized by a tendency toward mediation and reconciliation."

With these words the Indologist W. Halbfass (1979: 156) emphasizes an aspect of Jaina thought which representatives of a South Asian religion have often put forward in order to claim the superiority of their world view.

The lecture addresses this current of Jaina thought, which was called "Central Philosophy of Jainism" (Matilal 1981) and, misleadingly, also "intellectual ahiṃsā" (Cort 2000), in the context of other dominant currents, namely the reflection on ontological and soteriological positions (Tatia 1994) and the examination of questions regarding epistemology and logic (Balcerowicz 2001) as well as the intensive interaction with other traditions of South Asian thought (Qvarnström 1999).

Goals: Overview of central themes and important sources of Jaina philosophy; knowledge about the history of the philosophical Sanskrit literature of the Jainas and about recent secondary literature.

Methods: Lecture and discussion of primary and secondary literature

At the request of the students, the lecture will be held either in German or in English.

Assessment and permitted materials

(1) either written or oral examination at the end of the semester, (2) short written reviews of selected literature

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Examination (70%) and reviews (30%)

Examination topics

A list of questions that will be presented and answered during the course of the lecture

Reading list

– Balcerowicz, P. 2001, Jaina Epistemology in Historical and Comparative Perspective. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag (Alt- und Neu-Indische Studien 53.1-2).

– Cort, J. 2000: ‘Intellectual Ahimṣā’ Revisited: Jain Tolerance and Intolerance of Others. Philosophy East and West 50.3, pp. 324-347.

– Halbfass, W., 1979: Philosophie [Südasiens]. In: Einführung in die Indologie. Stand, Methoden, Aufgaben. Hrsg. v. H. Bechert und G. v. Simson. Darmstadt [1979] 2. Auflage 1993, pp. 138-158.

– Matilal, B., 1981: The Central Philosophy of Jainism (Anekānta-Vāda). Ahme­da­bad: L.D. Institute of Indology.

– Qvarnström, O., 1999: Haribhadra and the Beginnings of Doxography in India. In: Approaches to Jaina Studies. Ed. by O. Qvarnström und N. Wagle. Toronto: South Asian Studies, Papers 11, pp. 169-210.

– Tatia, N., 1994: Tattvārthasūtra: That Which Is. San Francisco: Harper and Collins (The Sacred Literature Series).

– Trikha, H., 2015: Trends of research on philosophical Sanskrit works of the Jainas. In: Sanmati. Essays Felicitating Professor Hampa Nagarajaiah on the Occasion of his 80th Birthday. Ed. by L. and J. Soni. Bangalore: Sapna Book House, pp. 423-435.

Association in the course directory

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Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:20