An analysis and evaluation of free-will within Buddhist and christian traditions
A notion of free-will is as indispensable a concept to the philosophical principles of the Buddhist tradition as it is to the tenets of Christianity. The primary undertaking of this thesis has been to test this hypothesis through an analysis and evaluation of the notion of free-will as it pertains to the belief systems of both traditions. Critical evaluation has permitted me to establish how central and vital the issue of free-will is in both theory and practice. I have reflected upon this centrality and what it has revealed about the status of human free-will within the context of each tradition's understanding of reality. The methodology has been through the principle of analogy of proportion. The approach has also been Wittgensteinian in emphasis, mindful of the need to appraise words used within the context of religious language in their native environment. Although concerned to present the emic meaning of the tradition, this has not precluded speculative enquiry by extending the analogous correlation. From the evidence of my research it is apparent that only a partial endorsement of the original hypothesis can be sustained as a genuine statement. Within the Christian theistic tradition, a notion of free-will
Jordan, Diane Elizabeth
Buddhism; Christianity
An analysis and evaluation of free-will within Buddhist and christian traditions. A notion of free-will is as indispensable a concept to the philosophical principles of the Buddhist tradition as it is to the tenets of Christianity. The primary undertaking of this thesis has been to test this hypothesis through an analysis and evaluation of the notion of free-will as it pertains to the belief systems of both traditions. Critical evaluation has permitted me to establish how central and vital the issue of free-will is in both theory and practice. I have reflected upon this centrality and what it has revealed about the status of human free-will within the context of each tradition's understanding of reality. The methodology has been through the principle of analogy of proportion. The approach has also been Wittgensteinian in emphasis, mindful of the need to appraise words used within the context of religious language in their native environment. Although concerned to present the emic meaning of the tradition, this has not precluded speculative enquiry by extending the analogous correlation. From the evidence of my research it is apparent that only a partial endorsement of the original hypothesis can be sustained as a genuine statement. Within the Christian theistic tradition, a notion of free-will
analysis evaluation free_will within buddhist christian tradition notion free_will indispensable concept philosophical_principle buddhist tradition tenet christianity primary undertaking test_hypothesis analysis evaluation notion free_will belief_system tradition critical_evaluation permit establish central vital issue free_will theory_practice reflect_upon centrality reveal status human free_will within_context tradition reality principle analogy proportion also wittgensteinian emphasis mindful need appraise word_use within_context religious language native environment although concerned present emic meaning tradition preclude speculative enquiry extend analogous correlation evidence apparent partial endorsement original hypothesis sustain genuine statement within christian theistic tradition notion free_will