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 Confucianism and Taoism, the two main philosophical schools in China, and discussing related schools of thought as time permits. The discussion will also be set firmly within the context of Chinese history and culture whenever it is closely related to the philosophy of Confucianism and Taoism.

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
  • Liu, Shu-Hsien, 1998, Understanding Confucian Philosophy: Classical and Sung-Ming, Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.

Recommended Books:

  • Graham, A.C. (translator), 2001. Chuang-Tzu: the inner chapters
  • 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.

 

Useful Links:


Topics:

  1. Introduction to Chinese culture, history, and philosophy (Jan 25, Jan 30, Feb 1)
  2. Confucius (Feb 6, 8, 15, 22)
  3. Mencius
  4. The Great Learning and The Doctrine of Mean
  5. Hsun Tzu
  6. I-Ching (Book of Change) and Ying-Yang School
  7. Han Fei Tzu, and the Legalist School
  8. Mo Tzu and Mohism
  9. Taoism and Lao Tzu
  10. Taoism Chuang Tzu
  11. Sung-Ming Confucianism
  12. Contemporary Confucianism and the Modern World

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Announcements:

  • Topic 1: Read Chan Chapter 1; Fung Chapter 1 & 2 ;Liu Chapter 1
  • Topic 2: Read Chan Chapter 2; Fung Chapter 4; Liu Chapter 2
  • Topic 3: Read Chan Chapter 3; Fung Chapter 7; Liu Chapter 3
  • Chinese New Year! No class on Feb 20.
  • Topic 4: Read Chan Chapter 4 and 5; Fung Chapter 15 pp.172-177; Liu Chapter 4
  • Midterm Test: March 15
  • First Paper Due: March 29
  • Topic 5: Read Chan Chapter 6; Fung Chapter 13
  • Topic 6: Read Chan Chapter 11, 13; Fung Chapter 12, 15; Liu Chapter 5
  • Topic 7: Read Chan Chapter 12 ; Fung Chapter 14
  • Topic 8: Read Chan Chapter 9; Fung Chapter 5
  • Topic 9: Chan Chapter 7; Fung Chapter 6, 9;
  • Topic 10: Chan Chapter 8; Fung Chapter 10
  • Topic 11: ; Liu Chapter 7; Reading in Lecture notes (Recommend Chapters: Chan 28-35; Fung 23-26; Liu 8-11)
  • Topic 12: Reading in Lecture notes
  • Second Paper Due: May 10 (with comment) or May 16 (Without Comment)
  • Final exam: May 16

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Online Documents: