Department of Philosophy

Professor Chung-ying Cheng
2008 Fall Semester
Philosophy 370  Introduction to Chinese Philosophy
Outline / Syllabus

 Weeks   Tu   Fr                        Themes/ Topics/ Issues                     
1.   Aug   26    28                  Chinese Philosophy as A Living Tradition  
                                                    Ways of Thinking and Expression: E and W
2.   Sept   02    04                  Origins of Chinese Philosophy
                                                    Subject and Object: Knowing and Acting
3.   Sept   09    11                  Yi Jing/  Shu Jing / Shi Jing: Pre-Classical Tradition                        
      Group Discussion                      Compare with the Greek Origins
4.   Sept   16    18                   From Cosmology to Ontology to Practicology
                                                           Divination and Being-in-Becoming  
5.   Sept    23    25                  Tian and the Dao: the Creative Ultimate  
     1st Short Paper                 Daoism of Laozi: Ziran and Wuwei
6.   Sept    30  Oct 02             Individual Life and Self in Society and History
                                               Confucius: Reflections on De and Wen                                                                                      
7.   Oct     07    09                  Confucian Humanology and Confucian Ethics
      Group Discussion                         Ren, Li, Yi, Zhi, Xing
8.   Oct     14    16                   Mencius: Philosophy of Human Nature (Xing)     
                                                Daxue and Zhongyong : Zhizhi/ Zhicheng/ Zhihe              
9.   Oct     21    23                   Mozi and Neo-Moists: Methods and Principles
                                                      Jianai, Huli, Feiming, Xiangtong, logic and science
10.  Oct    28    30                   Critique from Zhuangzi: Zhenren and Zhenzhi
       2nd Short Paper              The Rise of Qigong and Chinese Medical Art
11.  Nov   04    06                    Xunzi: Morality and Government: Li and Fa                          
       Group Discussion                   Good and Evil: the Uses of Reason                           
12.  Nov   11    13                     Han Fei: Radical Uses of Law and Power    
                                                     Reflections on Power and Violence                   
13.  Nov    18   20                    Gongsun Long: Logic and Language                    
14.  Nov    25   27                     Import and Importance of Song-Ming Philosophy  
                                                     Daoxue, Lixue, Xinxue, Qixue
15.  Dec    02   04                     Chinese Buddhist Philosophy
                                                  Contemporary Chinese  Philosophy   
16.  Dec    09   11                      Summary / Review / Evaluation
      Final Paper Due              
                                         

Corresponding Assignments of Readings will be made in every week.
Two short papers with each for 4 pages and long paper (term paper) for 12 pages
Grade system: 2 short papers 20%, Term Paper 30 %, Final Exam 25 %，Attendance and Participation 25%. Take-home exam considered