Universität Wien
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180186 VO-L An Introduction to the Buddhist Epistemological School (2024S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie

Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:

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Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 14.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 21.03. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 11.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 18.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 25.04. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 02.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 16.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 23.05. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 06.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 13.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 20.06. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Students in this course will:

1) gain a general overview of the main philosophical positions upheld in a tradition constituted by a group of South Asian Buddhist authors between the fifth and twelfth centuries CE;

2) acquire a basic working knowledge of the logical and rhetorical tools these authors used in arguing for their positions;

3) learn to identify different approaches to the translation and interpretation of the (mostly Sanskrit and Tibetan) sources of this tradition;

4) develop experience in weighing up the different approaches on the background of common principles of comparative philosophy.

The current of Buddhist philosophy known as the tradition of /pramāṇa/ (typically translated as “means of knowledge” or “means of valid cognition”) due to its focus on logic and epistemology had an extraordinarily strong influence on the development of philosophy in South Asia and Tibet. Studying this tradition's positions introduces students to a significant and productive chapter in the global history of philosophy. Knowledge of these positions, and of the methods by which they are established, is an important tool for any further engagement with South Asian and Tibetan philosophical thought. In exploring the authors' wider cultural background and in closely reading some of their arguments (in translation), we will reflect on current principles of comparative philosophy.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment by written exam. No electronic devices permitted. Written notes allowed.

First opportunity to take the exam: Thursday 27.06.2024, 15:00-16:30, Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien C0302

Later dates (at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the winter term 2024) will be announced on u:find during the summer term.

Any attempt to cheat will result in an “X” (“obtained by fraudulent means”) in the records.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

For the written exam the student must choose five questions from
at least three different topics:

1) Comparative philosophy and reading South Asian Buddhist philosophy
in translation
2) Logical theory
3) Epistemology
4) Ontology

Each answer can fetch up to 10 points.

Key for grading:

• 50 to 45 points: “1” (excellent)
• 44 to 38 points: “2” (good)
• 37 to 30 points: “3” (satisfactory)
• 29 to 25 points: “4” (sufficient)
• 24 to 0 points: “5” (failed)

(Update 2024-06-20: restate requirements in view of questionnaire developed during the term.)

Examination topics

Content of lectures plus required reading (marked as such in Moodle).
Ca. 25 articles/book chapters.

Reading list

The readings for this course will be primarily in English: in addition
to scholarly articles on each topic, we will also discuss and
critically examine translations of selected passages.

Non-required reading:

• Eltschinger, Vincent. 2010. “Dharmakīrti.” Revue Internationale de
Philosophie 64 (3): 397–440. <https://doi.org/10.3917/rip.253.0397>.

• Eltschinger, Vincent, John Taber, Michael Torsten Much, and Isabelle
Ratié. 2018. Dharmakīrti’s Theory of Exclusion (Apoha): On
Concealing: An Annotated Translation of Pramāṇavārttikasvavṛtti
24,16–45,20 (Pramāṇavārttika 1.40–91). Vol. 1. Studia Philologica
Buddhica Monograph Series 36. Tokyo: The International Institute for
Buddhist Studies.

• Franco, Eli. 1997;. Dharmakīrti on Compassion and Rebirth. Wiener
Studien Zur Tibetologie Und Buddhismuskunde 38. Vienna: Arbeitskreis
für Tibetische und Buddhistische Studien Universität Wien.

• Tillemans, Tom, “Dharmakīrti”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of
Philosophy (Spring 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
<https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/spr2021/entries/dharmakiirti/>.

Useful places to start are these:

• Arnold, Dan. 2012. “The Philosophical Works and Influence of Dignāga
and Dharmakīrti.” Oxford Bibliographies Online Datasets. Oxford
University Press
(OUP). <https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780195393521-0085>.

• Kellner, Birgit. 2023. “Dharmakīrti.” Oxford Bibliographies Online
Datasets. Oxford University Press
(OUP). <https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780195393521-0284>.

Required reading material will be made available on Moodle at the
beginning of March.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 28.11.2024 06:46