Some thoughts about Hermeneutics

I found this week's readings regarding Hermeneutics particularly interesting.

Once again, the depth of philosophy and importance of reason in ancient Indian religion astonishes and fascinates me. Through our previous readings, I learned that the goal of Buddhism, for example, is the release from suffering and the eternal cycle of rebirth. In this week's readings, we learn how thinkers could justify and rationalize such a goal.

According to the basic rules of reason and logic, as described in Ganeri's text, rational thought leads to a rational and just goal. In fact, logical thought can only be justified as such - to strive for limited goals and ends or to engage in debate merely to disprove another's thesis or to attain destructive ends is wrong and unjust. 

Consider, however, the Buddhist's goal of ridding one's self of dissatisfaction (and ultimately achieving nirvana). One can only do so by achieving freedom from desires and from the eternal cycle of rebirth. Searching for such liberation is rational if one wishes to rid one's self of such dissatisfaction. Thus, the search for such liberation is the most rational thing one can do, as freedom from dissatisfaction is the ultimate goal.

Also interesting was the highly structured formula for making connections and providing proof as described in Ganeri's text. For example, on page 14, Ganeri discusses how in order to provide proof one's belief or inference, one must go through a series of steps. In order to prove that there is fire on a mountain, one must provide a reason, an example, an application to the present, and a final assertive conclusion. Such a formula is structured, concise, and highly logical.

- Anne Reynolds