PHIL 145 - Introduction to Asian Philosophy

5 Credits

Introduction to Confucian, Taoist, Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. Students read original texts from these traditions considering different answers to fundamental questions about reality, knowledge, personal identity and morality.

Fees

Quarters Typically Offered
Winter Day

Designed to Serve Humanities students, philosophy majors, students needing Humanities or D/G credit for AA degree, students with an interest in cultures and history of Asia.
Active Date 20240322T08:25:44

Grading Basis Decimal Grade
Class Limit 28
Contact Hours: Lecture 55
Total Contact Hours 55
Degree Distributions:
AA

Diversity & Globalism
Humanities Area I

Course Outline
1. Confucian Philosophy: Confucian ethics, the socially-constituted self, role of ritual and social performance in the development of the person, the ideal ruler.

2. Taoist Philosophy: Taoist critiques of the Confucian models, metaphysics, epistemology, cosmology; critiques of rationalism and traditionalism.

3. Indian Philosophy: Themes of the Samkhya, Yoga, and Vedanta traditions represented in the Bhagavad-gita.

4. Buddhist Philosophy: Basic philosophy of the Sutra tradition, 4 Noble truths, 8-fold path, anatman, karma, etc.

Student Learning Outcomes
Explain and critically evaluate key concepts from the Analects of Confucius (for example filial piety, harmony, ren, junzi, li).

Explain and critically evaluate key concepts from the Laozi/Daodejing (for example dao, de, wu wei, ziran).

Explain and critically evaluate key concepts from the Upanishads and Bhagavadgita (for example maya, moksha, atman, Brahman).

Explain and critically evaluate key concepts from selections from Buddhists texts (for example dukkha, samsara, 4 noble truths, anatman, emptiness).