Undergraduate - UnitATS3872 - Karma, self and liberation: Buddhist and Hindu perspectives

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2013 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

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Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Organisational Unit	Philosophy
Offered	Clayton First semester 2013 (Day) Clayton First semester 2013 (Off-campus) Clayton Second semester 2013 (Off-campus) Clayton Summer semester A 2013 (Off-campus)
Coordinator(s)	Dr Monima Chadha

Notes

Previously coded PHL3850

Synopsis

The unit considers a range of topics in metaphysics and ethics from an Indian perspective. The aim is to contrast the views of the conservative Hindu philosophers with those of the Indian heretics. Among the metaphysical topics special emphasis is placed on the theories of the self and their relation to interesting Hindu doctrines of Karma and Rebirth. The course also explores the relations between karma and other enigmatic traditional Indian concepts.

Outcomes

Students who complete this unit will:

understand the central philosophical tenets of traditional Indian systems;
deepen their understanding of central issues in philosophy by considering them from a novel perspective;
appreciate how traditional Indian philosophers envisage a deep connection between their metaphysical and ethical positions;
be motivated and well equipped to exploit traditional Indian ideas through an understanding of a variety of problems in contemporary metaphysics and moral philosophy and attempts at resolving them.

In addition, students completing the unit at third-year level (ATS3872) will be required to demonstrate independent research ability. To meet this requirement students must be able to exploit relevant resources which have not been mentioned in subject handbook and lectures in completing their assignments, in particular the major essay.