Admission requirements
BA students in Philosophy: Global and Comparative Perspectives, who have successfully completed at least 70 ECTS credits of the mandatory components of the first and second year of their bachelor’s programme, including World Philosophies: Modern Europe, Concepts of Selfhood, Language and Thought, and at least one of the courses World Philosophies: China, World Philosophies: India, World Philosophies: Africa, World Philosophies: Middle East.
BA students in Filosofie, who have successfully completed at least 70 ECTS credits of the mandatory components of the first and second year of their bachelor’s programme, including Griekse en Romeinse filosofie, History of Modern Philosophy, Comparative Philosophy, Analytische filosofie or Philosophy of Mind.
Pre-master’s students in Philosophy who are in possession of an admission statement and who have to complete an advanced seminar, to be selected from package D or E.
Description
This course is an introduction to the Mahāyāna Buddhist philosophical schools of Madhyamaka and Yogācāra. Authors we will read may include Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu, Asaṅga and Candrakīrti.
One reoccurring point of discussion will be whether the (arguably) predominant reading of these texts as antirealist (for Madhyamaka authors) or idealist (for Yogācāra authors) is correct.
A second aim of the class will be to examine how and to what extent these texts are continuous with the early Buddhist tradition.
Course objectives
Students who successfully complete the course will have:
a basic understanding of the insights of many of the most influential schools of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy;
basic familiarity with the historical background out of which Mahāyāna Buddhist philosophical debates arose.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
engage with philosophical reasoning and arguments presented by authors of the most influential schools of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy;
interact with philosophical ideas on a higher level, both in active participation during class, and in written work in the form of short essay assignments.
Timetable
The timetables are available through MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar.
Class attendance is required.
Assessment method
Assessment
Active Participation/cooperation in class/group;
Essay, paper;
Abstract, oral presentation.
Weighing
Participation and presentation (20%);
Essay proposal (10%);
Final essay (70%).
Resit
The resit consists of the final essay (70%). The mark for the resit covers the previously earned mark for the final paper only. The grades for the essay proposal and for participation and class presentation remain in place. Students who have obtained a satisfactory grade for the first examination cannot take the resit.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Required readings will be announced through Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudymap is not possible for this course. Students are requested to submit their preferences for the third-year electives by means of an online registration form. They will receive the instruction and online registration form by email (uMail account); in June for courses scheduled in semester 1, and in December for courses scheduled in semester 2. Registration in uSis will be taken care of by the Education Administration Office.
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.