Problem with Bartricks is that his polemics are powerful but he constantly insults and derogates anyone who challenges him — Wayfarer
It's Mahayana/Vajrayana style. Some Tibetan monks, for example, regularly have debating practices where heavy insults are part of the course. The practice of dishing out and handling insults is supposedly good for one's ego, or for overcoming one's ego (it works both ways).Problem with Bartricks is that his polemics are powerful but he constantly insults and derogates anyone who challenges him. — Wayfarer
It's Mahayana/Vajrayana style. Some Tibetan monks, for example, regularly have debating practices where heavy insults are part of the course — baker
I think that deep need to see divine justice comes from Christianity's role as the religion of the weak and oppressed. — frank
The practice of dishing out and handling insults is supposedly good for one's ego, or for overcoming one's ego (it works both ways). — baker
Justice or righteousness was central to Platonic thought. The Greeks even had a goddess for it: Δίκη or Dike. — Apollodorus
Justice or righteousness was central to Platonic thought. The Greeks even had a goddess for it: Δίκη or Dike. — Apollodorus
No, Christians don't hold monopoly over this notion, as there is a parallel in Eastern folk theories of karma.Do people have agency in Buddhism? That's often how reincarnation is interpreted in the west: as a solution to earthly injustice. That's obviously the main use of the concept of immortality of the soul, though that's not at all what Plato had in mind.
I think that deep need to see divine justice comes from Christianity's role as the religion of the weak and oppressed. — frank
Not at all. Discussing it in this context is part of my effort to find closure to my involvement with it.Just out of interest, do you identify as a Buddhist? — Tom Storm
What are you talking about??Why bother responding irrelevantly to my response to Wayfarer's interpretation of "reincarnation" when his differs substantively, so to speak, from your own? — 180 Proof
I'm getting tired of all these balls I'm supposed to drag around ...Discuss, man, don't score points.
In a Buddhist setting, there is such immense pressure to approve of and agree with the doctrine that it paralyzes one's critical thinking abilities — baker
Or there is no god and the evil doer prospers and then turns to dust along with his victims, destined to be swallowed by a black hole in cold dark space. — frank
There is always the possibility. But most philosophers have believed in God and in Justice, so an argument from justice isn't quite as outlandish as it may seem to some. — Apollodorus
Isn't Socrates supposed to have said "There is no such thing as Zeus"? — frank
Platonism believes in an indefinable and indescribable ultimate reality ("the One"), — Apollodorus
Neoplatonism, yes. But I was talking about Socrates. The charge against him was of failing to show respect for the gods. — frank
There is no logical reason to substitute supposed statements by Socrates' detractors for a centuries-long Platonic tradition that clearly believes in God, soul, divine justice and reincarnation. — Apollodorus
It's just that you said the philosophers believed in god. I don't think Socrates did. Plato used him as a mouthpiece. Plato wasn't the only one who did that. — frank
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