Spring 2009 201 Lecture Notes

Go to Human Nature.

Go to Lecture Notes from first half of the semester

3/19/2009

Introduction to Buddhism

• The Four Noble Truths

1 There is suffering.

2 There is the origination of suffering: suffering comes into existence in dependence on causes.

3 There is the cessation of suffering: all future suffering can be prevented.

4 There is a path to the cessation of suffering.

• Problems and issues with suffering: What kinds of suffering are there? For Buddhists, for you. [Distinquish good/bad, nec/unnec, etc.]

• Dependent Origin: what is it?

• Cessation of suffering: meditation, (non)self-discovery. [Need to assess this more in light of Discourse on Mindfulness and the Eight Fold path (See wiki page Noble Eight Fold Path

• Paradox of Liberation

Introduction to the Problem of Free Will

Presupposition in the discussion of free will: What would have to be true about the world for us to have free will?

First, define free will. Consider possible starting points:

1. Human agents act outside of causal influence...
2. Human agents experience choice in a way that they characterize has "free"...

Notice the different "burdens" each of these starting points.

We'll come back to the various positions on this topic, but take notes on them as part of your own background preparation.