Exploring Divergent Paths to Ultimate Value in Buddhism and Taoism Essay

Exploring Divergent Paths to Ultimate Value in Buddhism and Taoism Essay

Please write a 4–6-page paper on one of the following topics. Make sure to include a thesis and to cite all your sources. You may use outside sources if you wish, but the focus of the paper must be on one or more of the texts assigned for the class. Please also indicate at the top of your paper which prompt you are answering. Make sure to submit your paper anonymously, and please include page numbers on each page. The paper is due by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, August 9th.

1. Explain Nagarjuna’s notion of emptiness. What does he mean when he asserts that all is empty? What are things empty of? Is he right? Give two arguments in favor of emptiness and one argument against emptiness.

2. Explain Mencius and Xunzi’s views of human nature. Which, if either, is right? Give two arguments in favor of your preferred view and one argument against it.

3. Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism all have very different ideas of what is ultimately valuable. Compare any two of them and choose which you think is the better view. Give two arguments in favor of your preferred view and one argument against it from the other tradition you discuss. (The objection does not necessarily have to come from any of the texts; you are free to construct your own objection based on what you think an opponent from the other tradition would say.)