PHIL104/ASIA104/RELS104 Fall 2015

PHIL104/ASIA104/RELS104
Fall 2015

San Jose State University
Instructor: Bo Mou
Review Questions for the Final Exam
[December 3, 2015 version]

I. Review questions for true-false questions / multiple-choice questions / short-answer questions
1. Briefly specify the following terms:
(1)
metaphysics dao
(2)
de in its general sense and in its specific sense regarding human beings
(3)
superior virtue (shang-de, in the Dao-De-Jing)
(4)
inferior virtue (xia-de, in the Dao-De-Jing)
(5)
wu-wei
(6)
‘the Upanishads’
(7)
‘atman’ and ‘Atman’
(8)
‘Brahman’
(9)
‘Karma’
(10) ‘samsara’
(11) ‘maya’
(12) ‘avidya’
(13) ‘nirvana’
(14) ‘the three Jewels of Buddhism’
(15) ‘Buddha’
(16) ‘Three Fundamental Signs of Being’ (tri-laksana)
(17) ‘anicca’
(18) ‘sunyana’
(19) ‘prajna’
(20) ‘Dhyana’/‘Chan’/’Zen’
2. What is the relation between metaphysical dao, de and performance dao?
3. How does Lao Zi look at the relation between being and non-being when he says in Chapter 2
“Being and Non-being produce each other”?
4. Briefly explain how Lao Zi looks at the relation between moral cultivation and wu-wei.
5. Could Lao Zi’s rejection of inferior virtue and Confucius’ emphasis on li be compatible?
6. Briefly explain the basic points of Zhuang Zi’s (transcendental) perspectivism.
7. How does Zhuang Zi look at identities of things?
8. How does Zhuang Zi understand (relative) happiness?
9. Briefly explain the statement that “Tat tvam asi” (“That are you”).
10. Briefly explain the statement that “Neti, neti” (“Not this, not this”).
11. Briefly discuss how the Hinduist metaphysical understandings of nature of the world bear on its
understandings of the human life and destiny.
12. Briefly explain Sankara’s characterization of Brahman.
13. Briefly explain the distinction between the ‘orthodox’ and ‘unorthodox’ schools in Indian
philosophical tradition.
14. Briefly explain Buddhism’s core idea--the Four Noble Truths.
15. Briefly explain the differences between the Mahayana school and the Hinayana school.
16. Briefly discuss how the Buddhist metaphysical understandings of nature of the world bear on its
understandings of the human life and destiny.
17. Briefly explain Ji Zang’s double-truth account.

18. Briefly explain sudden enlightenment as understood by Chan/Zen Buddhism.
19. Briefly explain Chan/Zen Buddhist point of the attainment of non-attainment.
20. What are differences and connections between two related methodological things (i.e., a
methodological perspective and its related methodological guiding principles) that are involved
in effectively evaluating a methodological approach in Asian philosophy and comparative
philosophy? How to maintain adequate methodological guiding principles?
II. Review questions for essay questions
1. Give a comparative analysis of Zhuang Zi’s and Aristotle’s views on identities of things.
Steps: (1) briefly explain Aristotle’s view and Zhuang Zi’s view on the issue; (2) Give your
critical evaluation of them: Would you think (part of) Aristotle’s view and Zhuang Zi’s view
could be compatible? Why?
2. How does the Yin-Yang way of thinking fundamentally bear on some visions in Lao Zi’s DaoDe-Jing?
Steps: (1) Specify distinct characteristic features of the yin-yang way of thinking; (2) explain
how, in does the yin-yang way of thinking influence Lao Zi’s way as given in the Dao-De-Jing
(in view of those distinct feature of yin-yang way).
3. Give a comparative examination of how Plato’s account of Forms, Lao Zi’s account of
metaphysical Dao, Sankara’s account of Brahman, and Buddhist account of the three signs of
existence could jointly contribute to our understanding and treatment of the metaphysical issue
of being (unchanging) versus becoming (changing)?
Steps: (1) briefly explain the major points of Plato’s view on the relation between the world of
Forms and our sensible world, Lao Zi’s view on the relation between the metaphysical Dao and
the world of particular things, Sankara’s view on the relation between Brahman and our sensible
world, and Buddhist account of three signs of Being; (2) how these four distinct approaches
could jointly contribute to your understanding of the relation between being and becoming.
4. Give a comparative examination of Buddhist double-truth account and Zhuang Zi’s basic
methodological strategy (i.e., his version of “transcendental perspectivism”) and explain how
they can make joint contribution to your treatment of different approaches/perspectives on an
issue.
Steps: (1) identify in which aspects they are similar (or kindred in spirit) and in which aspects
they are different; (2) explain how their distinct and shared aspects can make joint contribution
to your understanding of different approaches/perspectives.]
5. Give a comparative examination of the Yin-Yang model, Hegelian model, and Buddhist “upāya”
model of interaction and transformation and explain how these three models could make some
joint contribution to our understanding of transformation and development.
Steps: (1) briefly explain what they are; (2) explain how these three models can make joint
contribution to your understanding and treatment of transformation and development.
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