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180036 SE Introduction in Indian Aesthetics (2025S)
From Abhinavagupta to Sri Aurobindo Ghose
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:Das Abgeben von ganz oder teilweise von einem KI-tool (z.B. ChatGPT) verfassten Texten als Leistungsnachweis (z.B. Seminararbeit) ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich als mögliche Arbeitsweise genehmigt wurde. Auch hierbei müssen direkt oder indirekt zitierte Textstellen wie immer klar mit Quellenangabe ausgewiesen werden.Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann zur Überprüfung der Autorenschaft einer abgegebenen schriftlichen Arbeit ein notenrelevantes Gespräch (Plausibilitätsprüfung) vorsehen, das erfolgreich zu absolvieren ist.
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- N Tuesday 11.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 18.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 25.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 01.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 08.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 29.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 06.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 13.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 20.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 27.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 03.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 10.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 17.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
- Tuesday 24.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
All seminar participants must orally present a text that is provided on Moodle for the course. The oral presentations should elaborate the most important ideas of the text for all seminar participants, question them critically and contextualize them historically.
The texts should be recorded orally in advance as audio files and send to the course instructor (arno.boehler@univie.ac.at), who will make them available on Moodle. File name: DATE_NAME_SE_Deliverables:
1) Oral presentation (15 minutes) + written submission of the presentation (approx. 4 pages).
2) An audio recording of this presentation must be emailed to the instructor a few days prior to the presentation of the paper. The audio file is the second part of your seminar performance.
3) The third criterion for evaluation is active participation in the seminar discussions.
With your registration you automatically agree that your written partial performances will be examined by means of Turnitin.
The texts should be recorded orally in advance as audio files and send to the course instructor (arno.boehler@univie.ac.at), who will make them available on Moodle. File name: DATE_NAME_SE_Deliverables:
1) Oral presentation (15 minutes) + written submission of the presentation (approx. 4 pages).
2) An audio recording of this presentation must be emailed to the instructor a few days prior to the presentation of the paper. The audio file is the second part of your seminar performance.
3) The third criterion for evaluation is active participation in the seminar discussions.
With your registration you automatically agree that your written partial performances will be examined by means of Turnitin.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
The final grade is composed of: 1) oral presentation + written text (40%), 2) audio file (20%), 3) active participation in the group discussions (40%). Grading scale: 0-50% = unsatisfactory. 51-63 points = sufficient. 64-76 points = satisfactory. 77-89 points = good. 80-100 points = very good. To pass the seminar, > 50% must be achieved. In case of an excused absence (max. 2 per semester) you are asked to inform the course instructor in time.
Examination topics
All seminar participants must orally present a text that is provided on Moodle for the course. The presentations should elaborate the most important ideas of the text for all seminar participants, question them critically and contextualize them historically. The orally presented texts should be sent in advance as audio files to the course instructor (arno.boehler@univie.ac.at), who will make them available on Moodle. File name: DATE_NAME_SE_
Reading list
Basic texts (obligatory literature. PDF’s provided on Moodle, Literature Folder)Block 1: Kashmir Shaivism (Abhinavagupta)
• Bäumer, Bettina (2016): Die flüssige Natur ästhetischer Erfahrung. Polylog 35, 89–95.
• Böhler, Arno und Loughnane, Adam und Parkes, Graham (2015): „Performing Philosophy in Asian Traditions.“ Performance Philosophy Journal Vol 1, 133–147.
• Deshpande G.T. (19922): Abhinavagupta. Sahitya Akademi: Delhi
• Gnoli, Raniero (1985): The Aesthetic Experience According to Abhinavagupta. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office.
• Skora, Kerry Martin: The Pulsating Heart and Its Divine Sense Energies. Body and Touch in Abhinavagupta's Trika Śaivism, Numen, Vol. 54, No. 4, Religion through the Senses (2007), 420–458. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27643281.
• Saxena, S. K. (2010): Aesthetics. Approaches, Concepts and Problems. Sangeet Natak Adademi: India.Block 2: Sri Aurobindo Ghose
• Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1997): Savitri. A Legend and a Symbole. VOLUME 33 and VOLUME 34 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Pondicherry.
• Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1999): The Synthesis of Yoga, VOLUMES 23 and 24, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Pondycherry.
• Banerji, Debashish, (ed.) (2020): Integral Yoga Psychology: Metaphysics & Transformation as Taught by Sri Aurobindo. Twin Lakes: Lotus Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42240-021-00091-5Additional texts (recommended texts for further readings)Kashmir Shaivism, Tantrismus:
• Muller-Ortega, Paul Eduardo (1989): The Triadic Heart of Siva. State University of New York Press: New York.
• Dyczkowski, Mark S. G. (ed., 1992): The Stanzas on Vibration, Suny Series in the Shaiva Tradition of Kashmir. New York: State University of New York Press.
• Dyczkowski, Mark S. G. (ed., 1992): The Siva-Sūtra with Bhāskara's Commentary, the Vārttika Translated with Explanations and Notes by Mark S. G. Dyczkowski. Foreword by Paul E. Muller-Ortega, SUNY Series in Tantric Studies. New York: State University of New York Press.
• Lakshmanjoo, Swami (2000): Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme. Lakshmanjoo Academy.
• White, David Gordon (2000): Tantra in Practice: mapping a Tradition. In: ders. (Hg.): Tantra in Practice. Princeton University Press: Princeton / Oxford.
• White, David Gordon (1991): Tantra in Practice. Princeton Readings in Religions. Princeton University Press: Princeton.Sri Aurobindo Ghose:
• Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1998): The Secret of the Veda, VOLUME 15 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Pondicherry.
• Banerji, Debashish, (ed.) (2020): Integral Yoga Psychology: Metaphysics & Transformation as Taught by Sri Aurobindo. Twin Lakes: Lotus Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42240-021-00091-5
• Böhler, Arno (2022): Sri Aurobindo Ghose: Vom Herz des Integralen Yoga. In: Mascha, Andreas und Seubert, Harald (2022): Integrale Anthropologie. Band 1: Grundlagen. München: Verlag Andreas Mascha, S. 57-89.
• Heehs, Peter (2006): Sri Aurobindo and Hinduism. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives and Research Library.
• Links: Evolution Fast-forward - Part 3 - Parts of the Being & Planes of Consciousness
• For a very good introduction to the life and work of Sri Aurobindo by Debashish Banerji, you might be interested in these three videos:
The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, Part One: The Revolutionary Yogi, with Debashish Banerji
The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, Part Two: The Spiritual Empiricist, with Debashish Banerji
The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, Part Three: Future Evolution of Humanity, with Debashish Banerji
On Savitri
Savitri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vKsNRbD4s
• Bäumer, Bettina (2016): Die flüssige Natur ästhetischer Erfahrung. Polylog 35, 89–95.
• Böhler, Arno und Loughnane, Adam und Parkes, Graham (2015): „Performing Philosophy in Asian Traditions.“ Performance Philosophy Journal Vol 1, 133–147.
• Deshpande G.T. (19922): Abhinavagupta. Sahitya Akademi: Delhi
• Gnoli, Raniero (1985): The Aesthetic Experience According to Abhinavagupta. Varanasi: Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series Office.
• Skora, Kerry Martin: The Pulsating Heart and Its Divine Sense Energies. Body and Touch in Abhinavagupta's Trika Śaivism, Numen, Vol. 54, No. 4, Religion through the Senses (2007), 420–458. URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27643281.
• Saxena, S. K. (2010): Aesthetics. Approaches, Concepts and Problems. Sangeet Natak Adademi: India.Block 2: Sri Aurobindo Ghose
• Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1997): Savitri. A Legend and a Symbole. VOLUME 33 and VOLUME 34 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Pondicherry.
• Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1999): The Synthesis of Yoga, VOLUMES 23 and 24, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Pondycherry.
• Banerji, Debashish, (ed.) (2020): Integral Yoga Psychology: Metaphysics & Transformation as Taught by Sri Aurobindo. Twin Lakes: Lotus Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42240-021-00091-5Additional texts (recommended texts for further readings)Kashmir Shaivism, Tantrismus:
• Muller-Ortega, Paul Eduardo (1989): The Triadic Heart of Siva. State University of New York Press: New York.
• Dyczkowski, Mark S. G. (ed., 1992): The Stanzas on Vibration, Suny Series in the Shaiva Tradition of Kashmir. New York: State University of New York Press.
• Dyczkowski, Mark S. G. (ed., 1992): The Siva-Sūtra with Bhāskara's Commentary, the Vārttika Translated with Explanations and Notes by Mark S. G. Dyczkowski. Foreword by Paul E. Muller-Ortega, SUNY Series in Tantric Studies. New York: State University of New York Press.
• Lakshmanjoo, Swami (2000): Kashmir Shaivism: The Secret Supreme. Lakshmanjoo Academy.
• White, David Gordon (2000): Tantra in Practice: mapping a Tradition. In: ders. (Hg.): Tantra in Practice. Princeton University Press: Princeton / Oxford.
• White, David Gordon (1991): Tantra in Practice. Princeton Readings in Religions. Princeton University Press: Princeton.Sri Aurobindo Ghose:
• Sri Aurobindo Ghose (1998): The Secret of the Veda, VOLUME 15 THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SRI AUROBINDO, Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. Pondicherry.
• Banerji, Debashish, (ed.) (2020): Integral Yoga Psychology: Metaphysics & Transformation as Taught by Sri Aurobindo. Twin Lakes: Lotus Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42240-021-00091-5
• Böhler, Arno (2022): Sri Aurobindo Ghose: Vom Herz des Integralen Yoga. In: Mascha, Andreas und Seubert, Harald (2022): Integrale Anthropologie. Band 1: Grundlagen. München: Verlag Andreas Mascha, S. 57-89.
• Heehs, Peter (2006): Sri Aurobindo and Hinduism. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Archives and Research Library.
• Links: Evolution Fast-forward - Part 3 - Parts of the Being & Planes of Consciousness
• For a very good introduction to the life and work of Sri Aurobindo by Debashish Banerji, you might be interested in these three videos:
The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, Part One: The Revolutionary Yogi, with Debashish Banerji
The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, Part Two: The Spiritual Empiricist, with Debashish Banerji
The Integral Yoga of Sri Aurobindo, Part Three: Future Evolution of Humanity, with Debashish Banerji
On Savitri
Savitri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vKsNRbD4s
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Th 16.01.2025 12:26
This seminar is designed to introduce you to key concepts in pre- and post-colonial aesthetics from an intercultural perspective.
In the first units, we will get to know the precolonial aesthetics of Kashmiri Shaivism by analyzing and commenting on the texts of the great Tantric philosopher and aesthetician Abhinavagupta. Abhinavagupta is considered by many interpreters of Indian philosophy to be one of the most important philosophers in the history of Indian philosophy, in whose philosophy aesthetics plays a crucial role, insofar as the arts are read and experienced by him as the place of the bodily awakening of an intuitive reason. Abhinavagupta thus resumes the tradition of the oldest of all Vedas (Rgveda), in which the figure of the spiritual poet (kavi) plays a crucial role.
In a second block, we will turn to the philosophical poem Savitri, written by the spiritual poet Sri Aurobindo in the 20th century. Savitri represents an attempt to write a philosophizing epic in the midst of modernity, to revive the culture of the “ancient sacred arts” and to free it from the colonial heritage of Europe.
In a third and final block, we will address the question of whether and to what extent the connection between philosophy and art could represent a possibility for decolonizing aesthetics and philosophy.