ANALYZE THE CONCEPT OF HUMANISM IN THERAVADA BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

The Theravada Buddhist Philosophy has perspective on humanism for 3 parts: 1) objectivity dimension, it is because humans have universal features, they are a part of nature and they are under the natural rule (Trinity). Moreover, as humans are one creature in the nature that have dynamic based on the flavor factors and include the five groups of existence (khanda), they are naturalism, realism and rationalism. 2) Subjectivity dimension , it is because humans are unique including characterized by the human race, characterized by Karma and characterized by special abstracts that differ from those of other animals (feeling, memory, thought and consciousness). For that reason, humans have feeling, memory, critical thought, more intelligence than other species, morality and ethics, and also have the potential to develop themselves to the noble level. Those bring them to be pragmatism, empiricism, humanitarianism, relativism, moderationism, and utilitarianism. 3) Objectivity and subjectivity dimension, as Buddhist philosophy views humans and things in the dimension of dharma and does not determine humans and things are concrete because they are only components of five groups of existence. Therefore, humans and things must be viewed in abstract dimension. They have intuition of Noble Truths and are characterized as law observance and liberalism.