longform – The Nanyang Philosophy Review

March 27, 2018April 2, 2018

Longform: The Child-turned Dharma Wheel – An Analysis of Chapter 26 of the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra

Written by Zulhaqem Zulkifli Chapter 26 (On the Action of the Child) of the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra (Chinese: 大般涅槃經 / Sanskrit: महायान महापरिनिर्वाण सूत्र), is a strange and fascinating portion in the entire corpus of the Sutra. Reading it, one cannot be blamed if one thinks that this chapter seems to be arbitrarily placed into the … Continue reading Longform: The Child-turned Dharma Wheel – An Analysis of Chapter 26 of the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra

January 30, 2018February 7, 2018

Longform: Zhuangzi’s “Perfect Words” – A Variation of “Goblet Words”

Written and Illustrated by Koo Hao Wei I. Introduction The term “perfect words” is specific only to the Outer Chapters of Zhuangzi. It is first introduced in Heaven and Earth, then appeared in Tian Zifang and Knowledge Wandered North, although not much is explained about its meaning. There are no scholarly works in the English … Continue reading Longform: Zhuangzi’s “Perfect Words” – A Variation of “Goblet Words”

April 27, 2017October 23, 2017

Longform: A Defence of Rock Music

By Ng Ling Xuan Scruton and Bloom argue that rock music weakens the morals of listeners by bringing easy pleasure. In this essay, I will attempt to address this claim. I will argue, firstly, that the usage of the formal classical music framework on rock music should be reconsidered. Secondly, the active engagement that rock … Continue reading Longform: A Defence of Rock Music

March 23, 2017October 23, 2017

Longform: Zhuangzi’s Conception of Self in Pursuit of the Way

By Harisan Nasir Introduction In this essay, I will attempt to answer a simple yet profound question: What does Zhuangzi believe to be the ‘self’? Firstly, we must ask whether Zhuangzi even believes in a ‘self’. Some have drawn parallels between Zhuangzi and early modern philosophers. Some philosophers. One uncontroversial interpretation of one of those … Continue reading Longform: Zhuangzi’s Conception of Self in Pursuit of the Way

December 6, 2016October 23, 2017

Longform: Supernatural Mozi

By Zulhaqem Zulkifli Supernatural Mozi: Importance of the role of the supernatural One of the salient features of Mohist doctrine is the particular utility of supernatural elements, most prominently seen in chapter twenty-six (Heaven’s Will) and chapter thirty-one (On Ghosts) in the core chapters of the Mo Zi. The supernatural, in this context, consists of … Continue reading Longform: Supernatural Mozi

November 2, 2016October 23, 2017

Longform: Michael Behe and Intelligent Design

By Carl Lee One branch of arguments for the existence of God is that of Teleological Arguments, which posit that only the existence of an Intelligent Designer can explain certain features of the natural world. This essay examines a particular argument under this category – the biological version of the teleological argument (BTA) advanced by … Continue reading Longform: Michael Behe and Intelligent Design