Buddhist Reasoning and Debate: Foundations and Applications
- 30 Hours
-
1 Credit
*(T&C Apply) Credits applicable only for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students enrolling for SIKSHA courses through academic institutions based in India.
- UG
- Upcoming Courses
- Faculty
₹2,500.00(GST additional)
About The Course
This course provides an introduction to Buddhist reasoning and debate, offering both theoretical foundations and practical applications. It serves as a gateway to Buddhist and Hindu philosophical thought, equipping students with a structured approach to analyzing information, forming logical arguments, and engaging in critical discussions. The course is not just about Buddhist reasoning but also about cultivating a disciplined approach to logical inquiry, which can be applied across various fields of study.
Syllabus
- Unit 1: Introduction to Buddhist Reasoning and Debate (Laying the Groundwork for Logical Inquiry)<\li>
- ● Introduction to the Course
- ● The Roots of Indian Logic
- ● What is Buddhist Reasoning? – Its historical and philosophical significance.
- ● The Role of Debate in Buddhist Thought – Why debate matters in intellectual traditions.
- ● Preliminaries for Buddhist Debate – Key terminologies and concepts.
- ● The Human Condition in Buddhist Philosophy – How logic is used for self-inquiry.
- ● Reasoning in the Buddhist Context – The link between logic, ethics, and enlightenment.
- ● Introduction to Key Logical Structures – The basics of comparison, inference, and analysis.
- ● Momentariness and Point Instances – A Cross-Disciplinary Exploration
- ● Logical Categories in Everyday Thinking – How Buddhist logic can refine modern reasoning.
- ● Practical Exercise – Identifying Buddhist reasoning patterns in real-world debates.
- Unit 2: Foundations of Buddhist Logic and Argumentation (The Structure of Thought and Syllogistic Reasoning)
- ● Comparison– Understanding the Boundaries of Pervasion in Buddhist Logic
- ● Three Possibilities of Relationships
- ● Catuṣkoṭi The Four-Cornered Logic of Early Buddhism
- ● Catuṣkoṭi and the Logic Beyond Logic
- ● Buddhist Syllogistic Theory
- ● Forms and Figures in Buddhist Syllogism
- ● Statements of Qualities vs. Statements of Pervasion – Two key modes of reasoning.
- ● Statements of Pervasion
- ● Understanding Forward Pervasion and Counterpervasion
- ● The Only Two Valid Syllogism Forms in Buddhist Logic
- ● Power of 'What if'- Tarka in Buddhist Reasoning
- Unit 3: Buddhist Ontology and Logical Categories (Understanding Reality Through Logical Classification)
- ● Buddhist Ontology – The Concept of Selflessness in Buddhist Thought
- ● Buddhist Ontology – Eight Mutually Inclusive Phenomena with Existents
- ● The Building Blocks of Reality: Matter, Consciousness, and Non-associated Factors
- ● Nonassociated Compositional Factors – The Glue of Existence
- ● Requirements for Rational Discourse
- ● Interactive Format of Buddhist Debate
- ● Buddha’s Parting Wisdom: The Power of Thoughtful Questions
- ● Building Argumentation Skills- Re-Cap and Conclusion
More Information
- Learning Objectives
- ● Develop a foundational understanding of Buddhist logic and reasoning within philosophical and doctrinal traditions.
- ● Cultivate critical thinking and structured argumentation skills through engagement with Buddhist debate techniques.
- ● Apply Buddhist syllogism and reasoning structures to contemporary philosophical, ethical, and social issues.
- ● Promote intellectual discipline, open inquiry, and engagement with diverse perspectives.
- ● Equip students with the ability to analyze, compare, and construct reasoned arguments in philosophical and real-world contexts.
- Intended Outcomes
- ● Explain the fundamental principles of Buddhist reasoning and debate.
- ● Analyze the relationship between perception, logic, and argumentation in Buddhist philosophy.
- ● Engage in structured debate using Buddhist syllogistic reasoning.
- ● Differentiate between valid and invalid forms of reasoning within the Buddhist framework.
- ● Apply Buddhist logic to philosophical, ethical, and modern critical thinking contexts.
