Admission requirements
Admission to this course is restricted to:
- BA students in Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives.
Description
In this course, we will engage in a thorough examination of two significant philosophical texts from Chinese traditions: The Analects (Lunyu,《論語》) and the Inner Chapters of the Zhuangzi (《莊子》). We will investigate these texts through translated versions, focusing on understanding their philosophical concepts and arguments.
Course objectives
This class will acquaint students with the fundamental contrast between South Asian and East Asian Buddhist approaches to the structure of human consciousness and awakening. Five major texts, with some classical and modern commentary, will be selected from the Indian and Chinese Buddhist traditions which will present varying depictions of human awareness, its natural capacities and problems and the possibility of its perfection. Students will in the course of the semester learn about the sophisticated but conspicuously different portrayals of human consciousness within the Buddhist tradition and the arguments that different Buddhist movements posited for supporting them.
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
understand and explain the structure and workings of Buddhist depictions of consciousness.
offer an estimated appreciation of the variety of perspectives on human nature within Buddhism.
philosophically evaluate which of the South or East Asian Buddhist approaches they find more plausible.
communicate their analyses of Buddhist models of awarness in oral and written forms.
Timetable
The timetables are available through MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminars
Class attendance is required.
Assessment method
Assessment
Written examination with short open questions
Paper
Active participation/cooperation in class/group
Weighing
Active Participation in Class and Tutorial Discussions: 10%
Midterm Examination: 45%
Final Paper: 45%
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Resit
The resit consists of one take-home examination with one or more essay questions, covering the entire course content. No separate resits will be offered for mid-term or final tests. The mark for the resit will replace all previously earned marks for subtests.
Class attendance is a mandatory requirement for taking the resit.
Students who have obtained a satisfactory grade for the first examination(s) cannot take the resit.
Inspection and feedback
Students will receive written feedback on their examinations.
Reading list
Slingerland, Edward, trans. Confucius: Analects with Selections from Traditional Commentaries. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2003.
Ziporyn, Brook, trans. Zhuangzi: the Essential Writings with Selections from Traditional Commentaries. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2009. (Both works are available online through the University Catalogue.)
Additional readings will be posted on Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Huizinga
Remarks
Not applicable.