PHIL 390R: Topics in Philosophy

Course Description

Topic Title: Eastern Philosophy: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism- The purpose of this course is to examine the roots and development of the three main strands of thought in Eastern Philosophy: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. We will do this by first working through the foundational ideas and arguments as they are found in the work Kogzi (Confucius) and Laozi, analyzing the basic arguments and disagreements, which pave the way for subsequent thinkers. We will then look at the development of these ideas in the followers of these two schools of thought. We end by examining the original development of Buddhism in India, and its subsequent transformation to Zen or Chan Buddhism as it encounters Daoism in China. Given the significant emphasis on praxis (as opposed to theory) in both Daoism and Zen tradition, it will often be the case that the distinction between philosophy and religion becomes blurred. Eastern Philosophy has a long and rich tradition, often beginning with radically different starting points and concerns from its Western counterpart (although there are certain overlaps and similarities). As such, this course will offer a window into a set of philosophical discourses that have only recently been seriously examined in the West.