Admission requirements
None.
Description
This course provides an historical approach to mostly non-Western philosophical and religious ideas. The course will proceed from some of the earliest significant texts in the ancient world and continue on to consider more recent developments. One of the key issues in the kind of liberal arts and sciences program offered by LUC is the way in which knowledge has been created, organized, and legitimized throughout history and across the world. The goal is to help initiate students into the process of thinking about how historical and cultural contexts have shaped what it means to be knowledgeable.
A bit about our starting point: The 6th century BCE marks a watershed in the history of human achievement. For example, it was around this time that Confucius and the Buddha lived, and the earliest of the Upanishads transitioned from a purely oral tradition. In the course of considering various schools of thought, it will be interesting to notice not only their shared histories and their divergent paths, but also some peculiar trends and goals that many of them have in common.
Students should be prepared for extensive reading, thinking, and writing, as well as active participation and engagement with the readings in the classroom, if they would like to do well in this course.
Course Objectives
This course aims to investigate a range of fundamental philosophical ideas and texts from various traditions. Students will be expected to compare, contrast, and critically discuss/write about the main issues and arguments.
Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of:
details relevant to the course theme and the historical context of the texts, ideas, issues, and events studied;
metaphysical and ethical problems related to certain developments in different traditions.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
formulate their own rational position (“independent learning”) on the topics covered in this course;
critically reflect on (“reflecting”) and distinguish between key types of philosophical argumentation;
exhibit the analytic skills (“analyzing”) necessary to comprehend the relevance of the past to their understanding of the present, while becoming more familiar with their own assumptions and values.
exhibit a set of reading, writing (“written communication”), and discussion (“oral communication”) skills that allow them to engage texts and other people in an informed and conscientious manner.
Timetable
Timetables for courses offered at Leiden University College in 2025-2026 will be published on this page of the e-Prospectus.
Mode of instruction
Each ordinary meeting of the course will include group discussion of significant primary texts (with reading to be completed prior to each meeting). Each class will begin with the instructor introducing the key issues and readings for that day and offering an interpretation of the works being discussed. Students should join in the discussion at the appropriate time, asking questions, making suggestions, or making comparisons with other texts we have read. For each meeting, it is a good idea for each student to mark out a short passage (1-3 sentences) from the day’s reading that especially stood out. That way, each student will always have something to ask about or comment on.
Assessment Method
Participation and attentiveness in class discussions, 19%
Short written reflections (1200-1600 words total, split throughout the block), 16%
One “mid-term” essay (1000 words, due around week 4 or 5), 25%
One final short answer exercise (during reading week), 40%
Reading list
Required texts (and I do mean required; don’t wait to purchase these books until the course has already started):
The Dhammapada: The Sayings of the Buddha, translated by Carter and Palihawadana (Oxford University Press, 2008).
The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation, translated by Ames and Rosemont (Balantine Books, 1999).
Upanisads, translated by Olivelle (Oxford University Press, 2008).
Other readings available online (LUCBAY and/or the Leiden library catalogue)
Suggested readings:
- Joel Kupperman, Classic Asian Philosophy: A Guide to the Essential Texts (Oxford University Press, 2006).
Registration
Courses offered at Leiden University College (LUC) are usually only open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Leiden University students who participate in one of the university’s Honours tracks or programmes may register for one LUC course, if availability permits. Registration is coordinated by the Education Coordinator, course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Dr. Adam Buben, a.j.buben@luc.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks
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