Philosophy as a practice of freedom in ancient India and ancient Greece
Education in ancient India begins with a ritual initiation (Upanayana) in which the student is reborn from the womb of the teacher. This image reflects the method of transmission of revelatory knowledge. The student memorises sacred verses by replicating his teacher's recitation. This thesis contrasts this image of replication with the image of midwifery that Socrates uses to describe his educational method. Socrates claims to be barren of wisdom. He does not pass down any knowledge but instead watches over the birth of his student's ideas. Both the ancient Indian and the Socratic systems of education claim to free the student but they both affirm completely different forms of freedom. Socrates frees the student to think for themselves, but the ancient Indian method frees the student by means of inherited revelation. This thesis compares philosophical practices of freedom which rest on commitment to tradition with those that rest on the rejection of tradition. Chapter One examines the way that the student is committed to the ritual tradition in the Brahmanical Upanayana. Chapters Two and Three discuss the relationship between the student and the ritual tradition in the Upanisads. Chapter Four analyses Socrates
Wharton, Katherine Louise
Philosophy as a practice of freedom in ancient India and ancient Greece. Education in ancient India begins with a ritual initiation (Upanayana) in which the student is reborn from the womb of the teacher. This image reflects the method of transmission of revelatory knowledge. The student memorises sacred verses by replicating his teacher's recitation. This thesis contrasts this image of replication with the image of midwifery that Socrates uses to describe his educational method. Socrates claims to be barren of wisdom. He does not pass down any knowledge but instead watches over the birth of his student's ideas. Both the ancient Indian and the Socratic systems of education claim to free the student but they both affirm completely different forms of freedom. Socrates frees the student to think for themselves, but the ancient Indian method frees the student by means of inherited revelation. This thesis compares philosophical practices of freedom which rest on commitment to tradition with those that rest on the rejection of tradition. Chapter One examines the way that the student is committed to the ritual tradition in the Brahmanical Upanayana. Chapters Two and Three discuss the relationship between the student and the ritual tradition in the Upanisads. Chapter Four analyses Socrates
philosophy practice freedom ancient india ancient_greece education ancient india begin ritual initiation student womb teacher image reflect method transmission knowledge student sacred verse replicate teacher recitation contrast image replication image socrates use_describe educational method socrates claim wisdom pas knowledge instead watch birth student_idea ancient indian socratic system education claim free student affirm completely_different form freedom socrates free student think ancient indian method free student mean inherit revelation compare philosophical practice freedom rest commitment tradition rest rejection tradition examine_way student commit ritual tradition three_discus relationship student ritual tradition analysis socrates