Philosophy 209A

INSTRUCTOR:  Benedict Chan

Chinese Philosophy

General Information

Course Materials


Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce some basic philosophical ideas from China. We will focus on the following areas: 1) The history of Chinese philosophy; 2) Chinese philosophical thought on ethics, politics and metaphysics; considered both on their own terms and in comparison with various western ideas; and 3) the original texts of Chinese philosophical works in English translation. We will concentrate on the following schools of thought in China: Confucianism, Taoism, Legalist school, Mohism, etc. The discussion will also be set firmly within the context of Chinese history and culture whenever it is closely related to Chinese philosophy.

Course Readings:

Required Books:

  • Chan, Wing-Tsit, 1963, A source book in Chinese philosophy
  • Fung, Yu-Lan, 1948/1976, A short history of Chinese philosophy

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Recommended Books:

  • Lau, D. C. (translator), 1963. Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
  • Lau, D. C. (translator), 1970. Mencius. London: Penguin.
  • Lau, D. C. (translator), 1979, Confucius: The Analects, Harmondsworth: Penguin.
  • Liu, Shu-Hsien, 1998, Understanding Confucian Philosophy: Classical and Sung-Ming, Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
  • Watson, Burton (translator), 2003. Zhuangzi: Basic Writings

 

Useful Links:


Topics:

  1. Introduction to Chinese culture and history (Pre-Qin),
  2. Chinese philosophy in general
  3. Confucius
  4. Mencius
  5. The Great Learning and The Doctrine of Mean
  6. Hsun Tzu (Xunzi)
  7. I-Ching (Yi-Jing, Book of Change) and Ying-Yang School
  8. Mo Tzu (Mozi) and Mohism
  9. Han Fei Tzu, and the Legalist School
  10. Introduction to Taoism (Daoism)
  11. Taoism (Daoism): Lao Tzu (Laozi)
  12. Taoism (Daoism): Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi)
  13. School of Names
  14. From Pre-Qin to Sung-Ming Confucianism and the Modern World
  15. Chinese Philosophy and the Modern World: Human Rights
  16. Chinese Philosophy and the Modern World: Democracy

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Announcements:

  • Topic 1 & 2: Read Chan Chapter 1; Fung Chapter 1 & 2 ; (Liu Chapter 1)
  • Topic 3: Read Chan Chapter 2; Fung Chapter 4; (Liu Chapter 2, Analects)
  • Chinese New Year! No class on Feb 7.
  • Topic 4: Read Chan Chapter 3; Fung Chapter 7; (Liu Chapter 3, Mencius)
  • Topic 5: Read Chan Chapter 4 and 5; Fung Chapter 15 pp.172-177; (Liu Chapter 4)
  • Test: March 13
  • Topic 6: Read Chan Chapter 6; Fung Chapter 13
  • Topic 7: Read Chan Chapter 11, 13; Fung Chapter 12, 15; Liu Chapter 5
  • Topic 8: Read Chan Chapter 9; Fung Chapter 5
  • Topic 9: Read Chan Chapter 12 ; Fung Chapter 14
  • Topic 10: Fung Chapter 6
  • Topic 11: Chan Chapter 7; Fung Chapter 9
  • Topic 12: Chan Chapter 8; Fung Chapter 10
  • Topic 13: Chan Chapter 10; Fung Chapter 8
  • Topic 14: Fung Chapter 16 and Lecture notes
  • Topic 15 to 16: See Lecture notes
  • Second paper assignment is also in Lecture notes
  • Final Exam: May 19 (Monday) 10:30-12:30 EGR 0110 (Our classroom)

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Online Documents: