484: The New Semester

Welcome everyone again after this nice summer break. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. But the party is over. Duty calls again, but it is a pleasant and interesting duty.

At the end of  the last lecture before the summer break I consulted the  Yi Ching to evaluate The Philosophy Class's achievements so far. 

The second hexagram appeared, K'UN, The Receptive:

The attribute of this hexagram is devotion; its image is the earth. It is the perfect complement of The Creative--the complement, not the opposite, for the Receptive does not combat the Creative but completes it .

This morning I consulted the Yi Ching again to see what it  will tell us about the new year. It presented me with the eleventh hexagram, TAI, peace.

The Receptive, the thee broken lines, which moves downward, stands above; the Creative, the three whole lines, which moves upward, is below. Hence their influences meet and are in harmony, so that all living things bloom and prosper.

This can only mean, that we are heading for a prosperous future of The Philosophy Class. At least we can look forward to the 500th lecture, which is in close range now.

In my lecture before the summer break I spoke about the meeting between Lao-tze and Confucius and the  completely different ideas that they had about morality and about what is a good man.

To learn more about Confucius' ideas we have to turn to "The Analects". It is the collection of sayings and ideas attributed to him and his contemporaries, traditionally believed to have been written by Confucius' followers.

The Analects has been one of the most widely read and studied books in China for the last 2000 years, and continues to have a substantial influence on Chinese and East Asian thought and values today.

Its origins date back to 400 BC, but during the late Song dynasty (960-1279) the importance of the Analects as a philosophy work was raised above that of the other classic books of Chinese culture.

It came to my mind, that it happens to be the case that the great cultures on this earth all rely on some book, which has its origin deep in our history.

The Western World has its Bible. The Arabic world has its Koran and the Chinese culture has its Yi Ching and Analects of Confucius.

Whether this is a coincidence or part of human nature, I don't know, but all cultures have an inclination to find moral standards and guidelines in those old books.

But like it is with the Bible, also the Analects is full of contradictions and need a lot of explaining (away).

Perhaps, as Karin L. Lai says in her "Introduction to Chinese Philosophy", we should not expect the Analects to provide normative answers to our ethical dilemmas. 

Instead, we might read it in order to understand the complexities associated with the process of moral reasoning as the early Confucians understood it.

The Analects is a collection of diary entries of other people’s behaviors rather than a book of authoritative sayings or a comprehensive and systematic philosophical treatise. 

As a manual of appropriate action and behavior, it can be used to generate and encourage reflective thinking about our own actions and commitments.

And when it comes to that thinking and about moral advise from Confucius, let me give you a quote from the Analects, which may puzzle you.

-QUOTE-

The Governor of She in conversation with Confucius said, “In our village there is someone called ‘True Person.’ When his father took a sheep on the sly, he reported him to the authorities.”

Confucius replied, “Those who are true in my village conduct themselves differently. A father covers for his son, and a son covers for his father. And being true lies in this.”

 -END QUOTE -

Thank you…

Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995

An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy - Karyn L. Lai, Oxford 2008

Chinese Philosophy, P. Carus, 1902

A Brief History of chinese Philosophy. D.T. Suzuki, 1914

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.iep.utm.edu/

http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.html

The Discussion

[13:15] herman Bergson: If you have any remarks or questions....the floor is yours :-))

[13:15] Anne Tee Chu: i guess must relog

[13:16] herman Bergson: we'll wait for your return Anne

[13:16] Gemma Allen: ok

[13:16] Bejiita Imako: oki

[13:16] herman Bergson: So nice in SL...

[13:16] Bejiita Imako: this sounded interesting anyway

[13:16] herman Bergson: you die and resurrect constantly :-)

[13:16] Bejiita Imako: hahah

[13:16] ἀρετή: *smiles* sorry for being late

[13:17] Bejiita Imako: esp after LLs latest inventions and upgrading

[13:17] Gemma Allen: you were not late herman started early

[13:17] Gemma Allen: earlier than usual

[13:17] herman Bergson: YEs indeed Gemma :-)

[13:17] herman Bergson: Eager to get the class going again ^_^

[13:17] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:18] Gemma Allen: wow lots of planes next door!!!

[13:18] ἀρετή: Does it mean then that Confucius advocate stealing? All that covering for one another..

[13:18] Gemma Allen: yaku

[13:18] herman Bergson: Well...what is interesting here is that confucianism came to is full bloom  about 960....

[13:18] herman Bergson: and only had to leave the stage around 1949

[13:18] Gemma Allen: and still exists so strongly

[13:19] herman Bergson: yes Gemma....

[13:19] herman Bergson: What makes me think are those reports in the newspaper...

[13:19] Gemma Allen: even in western culture people quote the sayings often

[13:19] herman Bergson: about fighting corruption in China

[13:20] Gemma Allen: was it not just surpressed in china??

[13:20] herman Bergson: I have a strong feeling that here is confucian tradition at work

[13:20] herman Bergson: yes....a number of party hotshots are accused of corruption....

[[13:22] herman Bergson: But before we dismiss this class I want you to reread that final quote from the Analects.....and explain what the morality of that is :-)

[13:22] Anne Tee Chu: until thursday?

[13:23] Gemma Allen: being true to what tho

[13:23] ἀρετή: I guess Confucius meant to say blood ties are truer than any misdeed..

[13:23] Gemma Allen: perhaps

[13:23] Gemma Allen: Yes-ah!

[13:23] Gemma Allen: not a moral position i think in our eyes

[13:23] Bejiita Imako: Confucius is good at Confuse for sure hehe

[13:23] herman Bergson: No indeed ..doesn't look like that Gemma

[13:24] Gemma Allen: however

[13:24] Gemma Allen: in Chinese culture the family is so so sacred

[13:24] herman Bergson: yes indeed....

[13:24] Gemma Allen: ancestors

[13:24] Pila Mulligan: filial piety

[13:24] Gemma Allen: are sort of worshiped

[13:24] herman Bergson: next lecture I'll explain what Confucius meant with this in our eyes peculiar answer....

[13:25] herman Bergson: indeed Pila....Ren and Li

[13:25] Gemma Allen: i guess we really need to think differently about the eastern way of philosophy

[13:25] herman Bergson: Well...I guess you ran out of questions...so..

[13:26] Chantal: Thanks Herman ㋡

[13:26] Gemma Allen: early dismissal???

[13:26] Gemma Allen: ♥ LOL ♥

[13:26] herman Bergson: Ahh yes Gemma...that is the most interesting part of it all....

[13:26] Chantal: Its the holiday blues

[13:26] Gemma Allen: herman how many lectures do you think will be involved here

[13:26] herman Bergson: oops you are right Gemma..lol

[13:26] Bejiita Imako: hehe well its interesting but its a way different way of thinking indeed this type of philosophy

[13:26] Gemma Allen: i will do an article about the class

[13:27] herman Bergson: Oh dear...how many lectures....

[13:27] Bejiita Imako: aa nice

[13:27] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:27] herman Bergson: we stil have a lot of subjects to cover...

[13:27] Gemma Allen: a broad guess maybe

[13:27] Gemma Allen: i know

[13:27] Gemma Allen GIGGLES!!

[13:27] Gemma Allen: ...LOL...

[13:27] herman Bergson: Lao-Tze

[13:27] herman Bergson: Taoism

[13:27] Bejiita Imako: hhaa

[13:27] herman Bergson: Buddhism

[13:27] Gemma Allen: have nto even gotten to buddhism

[13:27] herman Bergson: Indian philosophy

[13:27] Gemma Allen: which i think will be very long

[13:27] herman Bergson: Arabic philosophy....

[13:27] Gemma Allen: the whole year i guess

[13:28] herman Bergson: So this will take a lot of lectures indeed

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: this can be fun

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: and give some new experience

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:28] ἀρετή: whole year.. and fun.. *blinks*

[13:28] herman Bergson: I'll do my best

[13:28] Anne Tee Chu: 2014 can come...

[13:28] Gemma Allen  GIGGLES!!

[13:28] Gemma Allen: ...LOL...

[13:28] Gemma Allen: not too much homework

[13:28] herman Bergson: well before 2014 we'll have the 500th lecture :-)

[13:28] Gemma Allen: wowwoow

[13:29] Anne Tee Chu: cool!

[13:29] herman Bergson: 16 to go :-)))

[13:29] Gemma Allen: thinks how many i have missed

[13:29] Bejiita Imako: aaa ok

[13:29] herman Bergson: Now many Gemma

[13:29] Gemma Allen: oh wowo

[13:29] Gemma Allen: i dont know

[13:29] Gemma Allen: more last semester because of work schedule

[13:29] herman Bergson: as a percentage of 500 I would say 4 to 5%

[13:29] Gemma Allen: oh no

[13:29] Anne Tee Chu: well after 500 its possible to start again^^

[13:29] Gemma Allen: more

[13:30] Gemma Allen: i think he will find something new

[13:30] herman Bergson: ok 10%....deal !

[13:30] Bejiita Imako: haha

[13:30] Anne Tee Chu: i am sure he will^^

[13:30] Gemma Allen: oh i think closer to 15

[13:30] herman Bergson: 500 is just a number....

[13:30] herman Bergson: will just be a lecture of this project

[13:30] Chantal: No party?????

[13:30] Chantal: ㋡

[13:31] Anne Tee Chu: oh yes

[13:31] Anne Tee Chu: a philo party^^^

[13:31] herman Bergson: That is what I am thinking about Chantal...

[13:31] ⓆⓊⒶⒺⓏⒶⓇ: ㋡

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: Qwark can fix that, we have a Psy party in here afterwards!

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: haha

[13:31] Chantal: YAY ㋡

[13:31] herman Bergson: I am not that good at throwing parties...

[13:31] Gemma AllenGemma Allen GIGGLES!!

[13:31] Gemma Allen: ...LOL...

[13:31] Gemma Allen: nono

[13:31] Gemma Allen: no psy

[13:31] ⓆⓊⒶⒺⓏⒶⓇ: :P

[13:31] Anne Tee Chu: cool idea bejita

[13:31] Chantal: hehhehehehe

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: hahahah

[13:31] ⓆⓊⒶⒺⓏⒶⓇ: hahaha

[13:31] herman Bergson: yeah Bejiita...was thinking of Qwark indeed :-))

[13:31] Gemma Allen: herman is strictly not a psy person

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: would be something

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:31] Gemma Allen: he tried but failed

[13:31] Anne Tee Chu: well ten a bit more abba^^^

[13:31] Anne Tee Chu: +h

[13:31] Chantal: ㋡

[13:31] herman Bergson: yes Gemma...I confess...

[13:32] Gemma Allen: i know

[13:32] Bejiita Imako: you need to come to parvana some more time Herman its at 4 slt

[13:32] Bejiita Imako: every monday

[13:32] Gemma Allen: ahha

[13:32] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:32] Gemma Allen: i never make that

[13:32] Gemma Allen: but it would fit in with the philosophy class

[13:32] Bejiita Imako: ah

[13:33] Bejiita Imako: indeed

[13:33] herman Bergson: there...students are dissolving...!

[13:33] herman Bergson: Time to thank you all:-)

[13:33] Gemma Allen: ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:33] herman Bergson: Class dismissed

[13:33] Anne Tee Chu: thxs herman

[13:33] Bejiita Imako: YAY! (yay!)

[13:33] Bejiita Imako: nice Herman

[13:33] Chantal: Thank you ㋡

[13:33] Taffy: thank you Herman

483: The Yi Ching continued

The Yang and Yin conception of the ancient Chinese has exercised a dominating influence upon all Chinese thinkers, with the sole exception of Lao-tze.

Lao-tze's  Tao-Te-Ching, his book on the Tao, that is the Path or Method, the Word or Reason, the Logos, that was in the beginning 

and on Te, virtue, stands alone in the whole literature of China, propounding an ethics that repudiates all self-assertion, closely resembling the injunctions of both Buddha and Christ.

We are told that Confucius visited Lao-Tze, who, being by half a century his senior, must then have been about eighty years old. 

To evaluate this story historically, Lao Tze  is said to have lived at the same time as Confucius (551 - 479 BCE.), but recent scholars place him about two centuries later.

Anyway, while Confucius propounded the maxims of justice, the old philosopher urged the principle of good-will toward every one, saying: 

" Recompense injury with kindness." 

Confucius, unable to fathom Lao-tze's meaning, replied: 

"With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice  and punishment, and recompense kindness with kindness." 

Lao-tze propounds the gist of his ethics in §49 of the Tao- Te- Ching, where he says : 

"The good I would meet with goodness. The not-good I would also meet with goodness ; for thus I actualize goodness. 

The faithful I would meet with faith. The not-faithful would I also meet with faith ; for thus I actualize faith." 

Lao-tze objected to the very basis of Confucian morality. Confucius expected to make people good by teaching them propriety; 

if they were but respectful to parents and superiors, if they brought sacrifices to the shrines of their ancestors, and observed the appropriate rules and ceremonies, mankind would become moral. 

Lao-tse exhibited an undisguised contempt for externalities and ancestor-worship. He demanded purity of heart, emptiness of desire, and a surrender of all self-display, in imitation of the great Tao (Path), which serves all without seeking its own.

As you'll understand  we are facing here two important chapters of Chinese philosophy: Lao Tse and Confucius.

But it is not the right time for that now, because I have offered myself a nice summer break. However, I can not leave you without guidance during such along period.

So, I have made something for you, a present based on Chinese philosophy. You can use it every day to fathom Chinese wisdom and see what awaits you.

I also made another model for those who have another taste.

Let me explain what it is and how to use it. In both displays you see the 6 lines of the hexagram. You formulate your question, for instance, "What will be the future of The Philosophy Class?"

Then you click the lines of the hexagram beginning  with the bottom one and then up one by one. Like this.

Let's check what this hexagram means.

Some final technical remarks. The hexagram and the background are NOT linked. I have done this on purpose. It allows you to delete that background and only keep the hexagram.

When you click the background you''ll receive a notecard with instructions and some links to good Yi Ching sites.

Then you click the lines of the hexagram beginning with the bottom one and then up one by one. Like this.

.

herman Bergson clicks the hexagram symbol and gets the following hexagram

____  ____

____  ____

____  ____

____  ____

____  ____

____  ____

Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995

An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy - Karyn L. Lai, Oxford 2008

Chinese Philosophy, P. Carus, 1902

A Brief History of chinese Philosophy. D.T. Suzuki, 1914

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.iep.utm.edu/

http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.html

[13:18] herman Bergson: wow....that is amazing....

[13:19] Merlin: The receptive?

[13:19] herman Bergson: the Second hexagram :-)

[13:19] Debbie DJ: earthly complaine :::

[13:19] herman Bergson: Yes..

[13:20] herman Bergson: it is K'un

[13:20] Debbie DJ: lol... spooky effects

[13:21] herman Bergson: It is random not a prefab

[[13:21] herman Bergson: well

[13:21] Debbie DJ: Docile earthly compliant ox?

[13:21] Qwark Allen: what it meant?

[13:21] Qwark Allen: didn`t got it

[13:22] .: Beertje :.: it's a;; Chinese to me :(

[13:22] .: Beertje :.: all

[13:22] Debbie DJ: What a cool present Herman...

[13:22] herman Bergson: An interesting hexagram for the future of The Philosophy Class

[13:22] Bejiita Imako: seems interesting

[13:23] herman Bergson: When you click the background you''ll receive a notecard with instructions and some links to good Yi Ching sites..

[13:23] Bejiita Imako: ok

[13:24] herman Bergson: You just sit still now for a moment so I can send you both displays...

[13:24] Qwark Allen: and the hexagram? you send it?

[13:24] Qwark Allen: or we come here to do it?

[13:24] Merlin: There is a place in SL with an I Ching which you can consult and it gives the meaning too

[13:25] Pumpernickel Barthelmess: did you know that the i ching is on the ROK flag?

[13:25] Pumpernickel Barthelmess: check it out

[13:25] Merlin: TY Herman

[13:25] .: Beertje :.: thank you Herman

[13:25] Abinoam: thank you, it's a lovely gift!

[13:25] Qwark Allen: nice ty

[13:25] Qwark Allen: :-)

[13:25] herman Bergson: They are Copy / Transfer so you can give them to anyone you like..

[13:26] Qwark Allen: ::::::::: * E * X * C * E * L * L * E * N * T  * ::::::::::

[13:26] Qwark Allen: thats

[13:26] Pumpernickel Barthelmess: nice

[13:26] Lizzy Pleides: fantastic!

[13:26] herman Bergson: like Qwark can give them to Gemma who had to leave :-)

[13:26] Debbie DJ: Well conceived, and what a nice idea. Thanks Herman

[13:26] Debbie DJ: *•.¸♥MwAHh♥¸.•*

[13:26] Nasty Calamity: thanks herman :) I salute you with my toilet plunger

[13:26] Qwark Allen: oki

[13:26] Pumpernickel Barthelmess: lol

[13:26] Qwark Allen: i will

[13:26] Abinoam: lol

[13:26] herman Bergson: Thank you Nasty !

[13:26] herman Bergson: Well....

[13:26] Bejiita Imako: gotta try this out later

[13:26] herman Bergson: my friends...

[13:26] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:26] Qwark Allen: indeed

[13:26] herman Bergson: this was again an educational and delightful year with you all...

[13:27] herman Bergson: Thank you all for your interest and participation....

[13:27] Merlin: I think that place I mentioned is here.... Irvine (212,160,22)

[13:27] Qwark Allen: i bet this will be the first talk when class come back

[13:27] herman Bergson: and just know that the blog is visited ten thousands of times by all kind of people all over the world...

[13:28] Lizzy Pleides: Thanks to you, Professor for being here and teaching us

[13:28] Abinoam: Indeed.

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: YAY! (yay!)

[13:28] Debbie DJ:  :*★*:. .:*☆*:. .:* APPLAUSE!!! *:. .:*☆*:. .:*★*:.

[13:28] Debbie DJ:    ***APPPPPPPLLLLAAAUUUSSSSEEEEEEE***

[13:28] Debbie DJ:                      ¸. ★*´¨)     F*ckn Awesome!

[13:28] Debbie DJ:             ¸. ★´ ¸. ★*´¨) ¸. ★*´) ¸. ★*¨) ¸. ★*¨)

[13:28] Debbie DJ:             (¸. ★´ *(¸. ★´ *(¸. ★´ *(¸. ★´ *(¸.. ★

[13:28] Debbie DJ:    Applause!☆ «´·.¸¸.•.¸¸ YAY¸¸.•.¸¸.·`» Applause!

[13:28] herman Bergson: So again...thank you all and class dismissed

[13:28] Qwark Allen: been really awesome, thank you hermann

[13:28] Nasty Calamity: claps wings together

[13:28] Pumpernickel Barthelmess: thanks

[13:28] herman Bergson: See you all again in September..

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: been nice for sure

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: many interesting subjects

[[13:28] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:28] herman Bergson: ohh..I forgot...

[13:29] Debbie DJ: I would say its been enlightening, fun, and comfortable since the new chairs came ;) 10/10 for hard work Herman

[13:29] herman Bergson: you might have some questions left about the lecture of today :-)

[13:29] Qwark Allen: ehehe yes, they look great

[13:29] herman Bergson: Thank you Debbie :-)

[13:29] Qwark Allen: gd work

[13:29] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:29] Merlin: yes we didn't have the usual discussion today

[13:29] herman Bergson: Well..vacation for you all then:-)

[13:29] Debbie DJ: When does class resume?

[13:29] Qwark Allen: Hooooooo!!!!!!!   \O/     \O/     \O/

[13:29] Qwark Allen:                                |         |          |

[13:29] Qwark Allen:                              / \      / \      / \

[13:30] Abinoam: :D

[13:30] Qwark Allen: °͜° l ☺ ☻ ☺ l °͜°

[13:30] Qwark Allen: lol

[13:30] .: Beertje :.: lol Qwark

[13:30] Bejiita Imako: hehehe

[13:30] herman Bergson: First week of September Debbie....

[13:30] Bejiita Imako: oki

[13:30] Merlin: Well I dont live by the school calendar anyway

[13:30] Debbie DJ: wow -

[13:30] Qwark Allen: i bet with you all, will be a fast time

[13:31] herman Bergson: I do Merlin..did it all my life :-)

[13:31] Qwark Allen: summer allways go fast

[13:31] Qwark Allen: AAHH!!!

[13:31] Abinoam: Wishing you all a great summer.

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: hehe yes

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: will have a great vacation myself

[13:31] .: Beertje :.: thank you Herman

[13:31] herman Bergson: Yes great summer to you all:-)

[13:31] Bejiita Imako: same to u ㋡

[13:31] Qwark Allen: hope to see you all next week at sl10b

[13:31] Pumpernickel Barthelmess: thanks for the lecture Herman

[13:31] Qwark Allen: going now there to finish some stuff

[13:31] Debbie DJ: I expect to see lots of tanned fit people in 3 months ;)

[13:31] Qwark Allen: have fun till then

[13:31] herman Bergson: My pleasure Pumperrnickle

[13:32] Bejiita Imako: cu Q

[13:32] Abinoam: ㋡

[13:32] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

482: The Yi Ching continued

As we all know, religion plays an important role in the development of philosophy and science, in our Western philosophy a well known fact.

The developments were either dominated or obstructed by the Church or science tried to free itself from understanding reality, based on religious ideas.

When we think of China we hardly can associate it with some religion, like India can be associated with Hinduism or Arabic countries with the Islam.

Maybe some of you think of Buddhism in relation to China. One reason why we may have trouble to connect a religion with Chinese culture, may be due to Confucius. His attitude towards religion is a kind of agnostic and you just don't discuss it.

Of course there were religious concepts is Chinese metaphysics too.The insufficiency of the dualism which finds expression in this contrast of the Yang and Yin principles, must have made itself felt very early, 

for the Chinese philosophy, as it appears in all the classics, exhibits a decided tendency towards monism. The Yang and Yin are thought to have originated in a process of differentiation from the T'ai Chi, which is "the grand origin," the source of existence . Its symbol is a circle.

Monism means, a philosophy which assumes just one origin of existence, the existence of only one higher entity, unlike a polytheistic philosophy, which assumes the existence of multiple gods.

The T'ai Chi is not mentioned in the body of the

text of the Yi Ching, but is commonly believed to be implied in its secret teaching. This opinion appears to have been established as early as the time of Confucius.

In modern usage the term Tai Chi is now commonly understood, both in the West and in mainland China, to refer to the martial art and exercise system. What is now known as "T'ai Chi " only appears to have received this appellation from around the mid-1800s.

About 230 CE wrote the Chinese scholar Wang Pi: "Existence must begin in non-existence, and therefore the Grand Origin produced the two elementary forms. 

T'ai Chi is the denomination of what has no denomination. As it cannot be named, the text takes the extreme point of anything that exists as an analogous term for the T'ai Chi."

In the diagram to my left behind me the inscriptions in the two large black and white rectangles immediately above the circle read from the right to the left " yin " and "yang,".

If we fold the diagram in the middle we find that the yin and yang differentiations of the great origin cancel one another and the whole world sinks back into nothing, into black.

This symbolizes the omneity of the zero, which will illustrate what Chinese thinkers mean when they speak with reverence of the great nothing, of emptiness, of non-action, of non-existence.  To them it represents the omnipresence of the Deity in the All.

These ideas are formulated by Chou Tze (1017 - 1073 C.E)and his disciple Chu Hi (1130 - 1200 C.E.). The latter wrote a treatise on "The Immaterial Principle (Li) and the Primary matter (K'i)".

As Chi Hi writes: "The great extreme is merely the immaterial principle or  heaven, earth, and all things ; speaking of it with reference to  heaven and earth, then the great extreme may be said to exist within heaven and earth. 

Speaking of it with respect to the myriad of things, then amongst the myriad of things 1 each one possesses a great extreme. The great extreme is not an independent separate existence; 

it is found in the male and female principles of nature, in the five elements, and in the myriad of things. . . . Should any one ask, what is the great extreme ? 

(…)The great extreme is the immaterial principle of the two powers, the four forms, and the eight changes of nature ; we cannot say that it does not exist, and yet there is no form or corporeity that can be ascribed to it."

This is a reference to the Yi Ching.

Here we say again, that almost every culture in its metaphysics creates a believe in an uncaused cause a T'ai Chi. Next step is to personalize this uncaused cause.

Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995

An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy - Karyn L. Lai, Oxford 2008

Chinese Philosophy, P. Carus, 1902

A Brief History of chinese Philosophy. D.T. Suzuki, 1914

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

http://www.iep.utm.edu/

http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.html

The Discussion

[13:23] herman Bergson: Thank you :-)

[13:24] Debbie DJ: Neat. It has a lovely symmetry about it.

[13:24] Bejiita Imako: yes as symmetric it can be

[13:24] herman Bergson: yes..this male - female principle as the origin of everything....

[13:24] herman Bergson: We have Adam and Eve for that

[13:25] Urbanium: Hello everybody!

[13:25] Abinoam: Hi Urbanium ㋡

[13:25] Bejiita Imako: hi Urbanium

[13:25] herman Bergson: Have a seat Urb :-)

[13:25] Urbanium: thank you

[13:25] Debbie DJ: In some ways the idea of yin and yang is embodied in set theory - when you select something it leaves the rest of the universe behind.

[13:26] herman Bergson: What do you mean by that Debbie?

[13:26] Merlin: Oh Deep Debbie

[13:26] Bejiita Imako: hmm

[13:26] herman Bergson: Thought so too Merlin :-))

[13:26] Debbie DJ: Well, when the fire is burning, it is not not burning.

[13:26] Merlin: It is just turning ONE into TWO

[13:27] Debbie DJ: when you think of you, you have to think of not(you)

[13:27] Debbie DJ: i need a BAR (logic negation) here ;)

[13:27] Merlin: hehe Is that a bit of maths Debbie?

[13:27] Merlin: lol

[13:27] Abinoam: lol

[13:27] Bejiita Imako: ehehe

[13:28] Bejiita Imako: complex

[13:28] Merlin: Use != in LSL

[13:28] herman Bergson: Not sure how you relate this to the Yin Yang dualism,, Debbie

[13:28] Debbie DJ: When you study set theory, the universe is defined as everything. when you remove an element, the universe is changed.

[13:28] herman Bergson: It is...

[13:28] Debbie DJ: ok, just an observation

[13:29] .: Beertje :.: true

[13:29] Merlin: It is just a matter of creating a division

[13:29] Merlin: But the number two is the first that is greater than one

[13:29] herman Bergson: Well my observation today was that it is hard to pinpoint a religion on Chinese culture

[13:29] Merlin: and the first that becomes useful

[13:30] Merlin: and as we see with binary once you do that you can create all the numbers

[13:30] Debbie DJ: true merlin.

[13:30] herman Bergson: And tho there is buddhism, this may be due to Confucianism

[13:30] Abinoam: yes, i like that

[13:30] Debbie DJ: And also true Herman.

[13:30] Bejiita Imako: yes

[13:30] herman Bergson: We'll meet Confucius in coming lectures....

[13:31] herman Bergson: and even more interesting is the position of Lao Tze...

[13:31] herman Bergson: And what is interesting tools that there was a kind of believe in a personalized god in those days....

[13:32] herman Bergson: around 1200 CE....

[13:32] herman Bergson: and a monism....

[13:32] herman Bergson: but christianity never became popular in China

[13:32] .: Beertje :.: why not?

[13:33] Bejiita Imako: not their culture?

[13:33] Bejiita Imako: maybe

[13:33] herman Bergson: One of the reasons was that the Chinese have a deep respect for their ancestors and their philosophy.....

[13:33] Abinoam: europeans never conquered china the way they did, say latin america or africa.

[13:33] herman Bergson: The missionaries didn't show such respect at all.....which was rather offending to Chinese culture

[13:34] herman Bergson: Indeed Abinoam...

[13:34] Merlin: Well good for the Chinks then

[13:34] Merlin: (oops)

[13:34] Abinoam: hoorah! ㋡

[13:34] Urbanium: yes, but did they ever show any respect?

[13:34] herman Bergson smiles

[13:34] Bejiita Imako: hehehe

[13:34] herman Bergson: who Urbanium?

[13:35] herman Bergson: Christian missionaries?

[13:35] Urbanium: yes

[13:35] Merlin: I think I know what Urb is saying there

[13:35] herman Bergson: good question :-)

[13:35] Bejiita Imako: aaa

[13:35] Abinoam: in china, or in general?

[13:35] Urbanium: in general

[13:35] .: Beertje :.: qwark!

[13:35] Debbie DJ: If humans are inherently good (ref H. Bergson) did the Chinese philosophy achieved this objective for 5000 years?

[13:35] herman Bergson: well...you can fill in the picture yourself....

[13:36] Bejiita Imako: QWARKIEEE!

[13:36] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:36] Qwark Allen: ㋡ ˜*•. ˜”*°•.˜”*°•   Helloooooo!  •°*”˜.•°*”˜ .•*˜   ㋡

[13:36] Qwark Allen: Hey!

[13:36] Urbanium: yes, I think so

[13:36] Abinoam: some certainly did. there are wonderful stories of missionaries helping the peoples of latin america, helping preserve their heritage etc

[13:36] Abinoam: not all missionaries were jerks

[13:36] Abinoam: pardon my language

[13:36] herman Bergson: Every religion that claims to be the true and only right religion has a destructive side with respect to other ideas

[13:36] Urbanium: that's new to me

[13:37] herman Bergson: That might be true certainly Abinoam....

[13:37] Abinoam: read Bartolome de las Casas book in which he condemns the violence of spanish conquistadors. and he was spanish himself

[13:37] Urbanium: yes? wonderful

[13:37] Abinoam: and a priest, if i'm not mistaken

[13:38] Debbie DJ: One should be fearful of men with guns bringing their gods to you..

[13:38] herman Bergson: You always find individuals opposing to certain kinds of violence also if they belong to the violent party

[13:38] Abinoam: yes, debbie!

[13:38] Qwark Allen: ahahah yes debbie

[13:38] Bejiita Imako: aaa yes

[13:38] Bejiita Imako: very true

[13:38] herman Bergson: Quite a habit these days, Debbie :-)

[13:38] Qwark Allen: belive or die!

[13:39] Bejiita Imako: hehe

[13:39] herman Bergson: Hey Qwark :-)

[13:39] Qwark Allen: :-)

[13:39] Debbie DJ: My god is good - or ill kill you.

[13:39] Abinoam: lol

[13:39] Bejiita Imako: thats how muslim extremists do

[13:39] herman Bergson: yes, very weird behavior of the homo sapiens...

[13:39] Abinoam: yes, sadly that's what it often comes down to

[13:39] Urbanium: the thought that they would fight for god

[13:39] Bejiita Imako: jihad and similar

[13:39] herman Bergson: especially because such god as are only the product of his imagination

[13:39] Debbie DJ: worse than that - my money is good or ill kill you.

[13:39] Urbanium: like in the Old Testament

[13:39] Bejiita Imako: and these damn suicide bombers

[13:40] Qwark Allen: °͜° l ☺ ☻ ☺ l °͜°

[13:40] Qwark Allen: lol

[13:40] Bejiita Imako: so tragic everything

[13:40] Qwark Allen: buy or die!!!

[13:40] Abinoam: god is just a personification of their own interests and needs

[13:40] herman Bergson: What I said at the end of my lecture....

[13:40] herman Bergson: it is amazing how the need is felt toe explain the beginning of exiastence....

[13:40] Qwark Allen: for sure consume is the new religion

[13:40] Bejiita Imako: aaa yes'

[13:40] AbinoamAbinoam nods

[13:40] herman Bergson: Like the Chinese did by calling it T'ai Chi

[13:41] Bejiita Imako: sort of

[13:41] Abinoam: yes, about tai chi...

[13:41] Abinoam: i wanted to ask

[13:41] Qwark Allen: ehheeh look the huge consume temples, and how people are devoted to consume

[13:41] Abinoam: does the modern tai chi have anything at all to do with the classical?

[13:41] Debbie DJ: Its our brains - we need to rationalize our existence

[13:41] Bejiita Imako: and Apple is their god

[13:41] Bejiita Imako: lol

[13:41] Merlin: Well some Christians seem to think the whole of christianity depends on accepting Genesis

[13:41] herman Bergson: No Abinoam.....

[13:42] herman Bergson: the modern T'ai chi is actually called T'ai Chu ch'uan...

[13:42] Abinoam: right

[13:42] Abinoam: so it's a totally different thing

[13:42] herman Bergson: which means something as "the omnipotent fist"

[13:42] Abinoam: ah yes, i read that somewhere

[13:43] herman Bergson: it was around 1850 or so that some official at the court witnessed a demonstration of martial arts....

[13:43] herman Bergson: which had no specific name...

[13:43] Abinoam: i see. how interesting

[13:43] herman Bergson: and he seemed the have used the expression ...

[13:43] Bejiita Imako: aaaa ok

[13:44] herman Bergson: something like...the T'ai chi of the fist or so

[13:44] Bejiita Imako: i guess what we call tai chi is not at all related to that tai chi u name here

[13:44] herman Bergson: Correct, Bejiita

[13:44] herman Bergson: For your information....!!!

[13:44] herman Bergson: I have decided that the next class will be the last one before the summer break :-)

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: ok

[13:45] Qwark Allen: AAHH!!!

[13:45] Qwark Allen: ok

[13:45] herman Bergson: I just want a nice long vacation :-)))

[13:45] Abinoam: ㋡

[13:45] Debbie DJ: Oh cool... I'm on holiday the week after for 3 weeks:)

[13:45] herman Bergson: and I guess ..you too :-)

[13:45] Qwark Allen: you deserve it for sure

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: ah

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: yes

[13:45] Urbanium: I would like to join the class

[13:45] Abinoam: sweet. and when will we resume?

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: will have my vacation in July

[13:45] Qwark Allen: a pitty my rl got to busy at class days

[13:45] herman Bergson: You are most welcome Urbanium...

[13:45] .: Beertje :.: i want a long vacation too..but the question is do I GET it?

[13:46] Qwark Allen: °͜° l ☺ ☻ ☺ l °͜°

[13:46] Qwark Allen: lol

[13:46] Abinoam: lol

[13:46] Urbanium: thank you

[13:46] Bejiita Imako: hehe

[13:46] Debbie DJ: Well, I guess you will be reading Chinese by the end of the Vac Herman?

[13:46] Bejiita Imako: lol

[13:46] Qwark Allen: °͜° l ☺ ☻ ☺ l °͜°

[13:46] Qwark Allen: lol

[13:46] herman Bergson: Could be indeed Debbie :-)

[13:46] herman Bergson: I already once did....

[13:46] Bejiita Imako: ok

[13:46] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:46] herman Bergson: worked my way through Elementary Chinese part 1 and 2 many years ago :-)

[13:47] Qwark Allen: very nice

[13:47] Abinoam: ㋡

[13:47] Qwark Allen: so different language

[13:47] Debbie DJ: Debbie bows respectfully...

[13:47] herman Bergson: But I admit...I have to brush up my grey cells again:-)

[13:47] Bejiita Imako: very different

[13:47] Abinoam: yeah, not an easy language to master

[13:47] Qwark Allen: if you have in mind language, make influence in the way you think

[13:47] herman Bergson: Actually I was studying Japanese....

[13:48] herman Bergson: and because I knew a lot of Kanji I wanted to know how Chinese was

[13:48] Qwark Allen: good stuff

[13:48] herman Bergson: It is fascinating

[13:48] Abinoam: excellent

[13:48] Qwark Allen: japanese is not easy also

[13:48] Bejiita Imako: japanese i have easier get words  from, with Chinese its just different sounds, cant make any words out of it at all

[13:48] Debbie DJ: I struggle with new languages ;(

[13:48] Urbanium: they have 3 alphabets

[13:48] herman Bergson: I cant speak Chinese at all...way too difficult

[13:49] herman Bergson: yes Japanese use the Kanji and the hiragana and for loanwords the katakana

[13:49] herman Bergson: that is a big difference with Chinese....

[13:49] Bejiita Imako: one of the few things i know in Chinese is Wo Ai ni wich means same as Ai sshiteru in japanese = I love you

[13:49] Abinoam: aww

[13:49] herman Bergson: In japanese you have conjugations of verbs...

[13:50] Debbie DJ: Neat Bejiita ;) Love you too - lol

[13:50] Bejiita Imako: haha

[13:50] herman Bergson: Well...before we end up in a language course here..:-)

[13:50] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:50] Bejiita Imako: (jumphugs Debbie)

[13:50] Bejiita Imako: hehee

[13:50] Qwark Allen: heheheh

[13:50] herman Bergson: Let me invite you for next Thursday and thank you for your participation of today :-)

[13:51] Abinoam: thank you herman, good stuff

[13:51] Debbie DJ: Thanks for a great lecture Herman.

[13:51] Urbanium: sorry, Professor

[13:51] .: Beertje :.: i will be here next thursday it 's way too interesting:)

[13:51] Bejiita Imako: hmm getting more and more interesting this stuff

[13:51] Urbanium: how can I join the group?

[13:51] herman Bergson: just a moment and we'll fix that Urbanium :-)

[13:51] Urbanium: thank you :)

[13:51] herman Bergson: Class dismissed :-)

[13:51] Abinoam: ㋡

[13:52] Qwark Allen: AAHH!!!

[13:52] Debbie DJ: welcome urbanium..... to our class ;)

[13:52] .: Beertje :.: well we have a lot to think about again

[13:52] Qwark Allen: today i have to finish everything for sl10b buildings

[13:52] Urbanium: thank you very much, Professor

[13:52] Bejiita Imako: ok

[13:52] herman Bergson: Welcome to the group Urbanium :-)

[13:52] Qwark Allen: a lot of things there very interesting

[13:52] Urbanium: thank you

[13:52] Debbie DJ: Go for it qwark - when does it open?

[13:52] Bejiita Imako: nice Urbanium ㋡

[13:52] Qwark Allen: this saturday

[13:52] Bejiita Imako: aaa yes

[13:52] .: Beertje :.: can we have an LM Qwark?