Looking for a certain type of philosophers/shools of thought

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Driftwood
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Looking for a certain type of philosophers/shools of thought

Post by Driftwood »

Hello everyone, many thanks for having me here on the forum.

I was wondering if you all could recommend some philosophers or schools of thought, from anywhere in the world and any point in history, who do not come from a Christian/Muslim/Jewish background and whose ideals/philosophies contain the following elements:
  • Filial piety and ancestor veneration
  • Opposition to sexual promiscuity and substance abuse
  • A deep reverence for animals, plants, and the natural world in general (including the belief that all things in nature have a spirit) while at the same time allowing the consumption of animal flesh
  • A balanced notion of gender relations, in other words the belief that the two genders have their own unique strengths which, when combined together in partnership, can complement one another
  • The basic belief that, while societal and technological progress can be encouraged, it should be built upon the foundations of ancestral tradition and should try to avoid doing things which drastically contradict those traditions
I think Confucius and Mencius tick most of the boxes there (with the possible exception of point 3). I'm curious what other recommendations you all might have :)
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Pattern-chaser
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Favorite Philosopher: Cratylus
Location: England

Re: Looking for a certain type of philosophers/shools of thought

Post by Pattern-chaser »

Welcome, Driftwood, to our dance! 👍

I have no specific answers to your questions, but it seems clear to me that the answers you seek will lie in the more 'primitive' belief systems of ancient humanity. Back when we lived in families or small tribes, instead of cities with many millions of people. Look for the oldest belief systems, maybe shamanic traditions? I think your answers lie there. 🤔
Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"
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Driftwood
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Joined: May 15th, 2022, 6:18 am

Re: Looking for a certain type of philosophers/shools of thought

Post by Driftwood »

Pattern-chaser wrote: May 15th, 2022, 8:19 am Welcome, Driftwood, to our dance! 👍

I have no specific answers to your questions, but it seems clear to me that the answers you seek will lie in the more 'primitive' belief systems of ancient humanity. Back when we lived in families or small tribes, instead of cities with many millions of people. Look for the oldest belief systems, maybe shamanic traditions? I think your answers lie there. 🤔
Thanks for your reply. Funnily enough, most of the points I outlined in my opening post all come from my own Native-American heritage and the philosophical/religious traditions I was taught by elders from that side of my family. So yes, you're right to mention tribal or "primitive" belief systems ;)

The reason I came here is because I was curious if the same sorts of ideals I've found in my own heritage could also be found in other (non-Abrahamic) philosophical or religious traditions in other parts of the world. Confucianism seems to contain quite a lot of similarity to what I was taught, at least as far as the views toward elders, tradition, and ancestral learning. However it doesn't seem to place as much emphasis on the veneration of nature/non-human organisms. I wonder if perhaps other Eastern traditions, like Taoism, might incorporate this aspect?
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Pattern-chaser
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Posts: 8271
Joined: September 22nd, 2019, 5:17 am
Favorite Philosopher: Cratylus
Location: England

Re: Looking for a certain type of philosophers/shools of thought

Post by Pattern-chaser »

Driftwood wrote: May 15th, 2022, 10:10 am
Pattern-chaser wrote: May 15th, 2022, 8:19 am Welcome, Driftwood, to our dance! 👍

I have no specific answers to your questions, but it seems clear to me that the answers you seek will lie in the more 'primitive' belief systems of ancient humanity. Back when we lived in families or small tribes, instead of cities with many millions of people. Look for the oldest belief systems, maybe shamanic traditions? I think your answers lie there. 🤔
Thanks for your reply. Funnily enough, most of the points I outlined in my opening post all come from my own Native-American heritage and the philosophical/religious traditions I was taught by elders from that side of my family. So yes, you're right to mention tribal or "primitive" belief systems ;)

The reason I came here is because I was curious if the same sorts of ideals I've found in my own heritage could also be found in other (non-Abrahamic) philosophical or religious traditions in other parts of the world. Confucianism seems to contain quite a lot of similarity to what I was taught, at least as far as the views toward elders, tradition, and ancestral learning. However it doesn't seem to place as much emphasis on the veneration of nature/non-human organisms. I wonder if perhaps other Eastern traditions, like Taoism, might incorporate this aspect?
Taoism definitely has a much stronger link with nature than other Eastern belief systems. The Taoist religion in particular. [Taoism splits into philosophical Taoism, and a more local and human religion that seems to embrace more of the things that interest you.]

There's plenty of stuff to be found on the 'net, but this and this will give you a start.
Pattern-chaser

"Who cares, wins"
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AmericanKestrel
Posts: 356
Joined: May 22nd, 2021, 6:26 am
Favorite Philosopher: Yagnyavalkya
Location: US

Re: Looking for a certain type of philosophers/shools of thought

Post by AmericanKestrel »

Driftwood wrote: May 15th, 2022, 6:54 am Hello everyone, many thanks for having me here on the forum.

I was wondering if you all could recommend some philosophers or schools of thought, from anywhere in the world and any point in history, who do not come from a Christian/Muslim/Jewish background and whose ideals/philosophies contain the following elements:
  • Filial piety and ancestor veneration
  • Opposition to sexual promiscuity and substance abuse
  • A deep reverence for animals, plants, and the natural world in general (including the belief that all things in nature have a spirit) while at the same time allowing the consumption of animal flesh
  • A balanced notion of gender relations, in other words the belief that the two genders have their own unique strengths which, when combined together in partnership, can complement one another
  • The basic belief that, while societal and technological progress can be encouraged, it should be built upon the foundations of ancestral tradition and should try to avoid doing things which drastically contradict those traditions
I think Confucius and Mencius tick most of the boxes there (with the possible exception of point 3). I'm curious what other recommendations you all might have :)
Have you.considered Hinduism among Eastern thoughts?
1. Mother, father, and teacher are considered equal to Divinity and ancestral veneration, yes
2. Chastity and dietary restrictions are necessary parts of living a mindful life that will lead to Self realization.
3. Check. Eating flesh or not are choices that are form of the mindful living. What we eat affect our temperament, emotions, actions.Each and every being exists within Brhaman, the Divinity, and nothing exists outside of it. Reverence of nature are representation of Divinity.
4. Brhman has no gender, and our true self is Brahman itself, and gender has no meaning. As long as we live a worldly life we live by the laws of biology.
5. Hinduism has no conflict with Science as everting operates within the cosmic laws.
"The Serpent did not lie."
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