IH 0951 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - God, Book Of Genesis, Trust Law
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
IH 0951
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Daodejing (aka Tao Te Ching) By Laozi (aka Zhuangzi)
● Dao- Way
● De- Virtue/Power
● Jing- Classic
Dao
● Natural flow how all things are and exist in the world
● (pages 22) - source, sustenance, and ideal pattern for all things in the world
● Things as they naturally are and we should accept that in order to be conscious of the way
● It is in the Present
What are things that disconnect from the Way?
● Performing
● Money
● Relationships
● Greed
● Politics
● news, current events
All of these speak to desires (dissatisfaction of the present)
Taoist Readings
III
● You think what you want to think and block out the things that may be the truth
○ Something out of the ordinary clouds your judgement
● Your perception is backed by your own justification
● You view yourself as perfect and someone else is in the wrong
○ Tend not to look critically at ourselves but we look outwards
○ It is our own pride, maintain our image of ourselves
● There are certain biases and prejudices based on appearance
○ “Young boy” would be more likely to steal rather than an old woman.
V
● Nothing or good or bad
● Balance between opposites
I
● “Terms may be used but not absolute”
○ Terms are inherently manipulatable therefore cannot be absolute
○ Things are labeled for our convenience - for practical use
○ Nothing is constant (ex: waterbottle will not be a water bottle forever)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
○ Words are relative to who is using them
● Our understanding of words deepen as we age
(pg 102)
“If the Dao cannot be ‘spoken’ of, why is there 81 pages of it spoken?”
● Knowing a little more is better than complete ignorance
● It is the only way to share the Dao with others because others think in words. Better than
not to share it at all.
“Unhewn wood” (Uncarved block) - original simplicity; symbol for anything that is in its
unadulterated state.
Why is wanting to become a better person not the Way?
You are setting yourself to a standard and the Way does have any set standard.
You have an alterative motive to become a better person. (It is not your “natural” state of
being but a conscious process in order to become better)
Good and bad inherently carves the “wood”. But it’s good as long as you know when to stop.
Does who use “it” (the Way) ruin it.
Short Readings (Explanations):
“Everything is Best”
Everything is best in its own way because it is unique in its own way.
If you were to say that not everything is the best, people will always look for something
better because they are dissatisfied with what there already is.
We place our value on judgements and we are not able to see the “isness” of everything.
Without value and judgement, the world shines and all is well.
“The Most Valuable Thing in the World”
When you set a value onto something, you place a limit onto it. (Because it is only worth
this set amount) However, when there is no value in the first place, you appreciate the fullness of
it without putting a limit on it.
There is no actual desire or value or use for us and this desire of using something does
not blind you from the Way.
The cat is not the most valuable thing in the world but it is the best representation he
could give to him.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Daodejing (aka tao te ching) by laozi (aka zhuangzi) Natural flow how all things are and exist in the world. (pages 22) - source, sustenance, and ideal pattern for all things in the world. Things as they naturally are and we should accept that in order to be conscious of the way. All of these speak to desires (dissatisfaction of the present) You think what you want to think and block out the things that may be the truth. Something out of the ordinary clouds your judgement. Your perception is backed by your own justification. You view yourself as perfect and someone else is in the wrong. Tend not to look critically at ourselves but we look outwards. It is our own pride, maintain our image of ourselves. There are certain biases and prejudices based on appearance. Young boy would be more likely to steal rather than an old woman. Terms may be used but not absolute .
