Introduction To Chinese Philosophy

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

After the module, a student:

• is familiarized with the thought of the greatest ancient Chinese philosophers

• possesses the ability to understand and interpret the source texts of Chinese thought

• is able to analyse and compare the core concepts of classical Chinese philosophy

• knows the influence of Chinese philosophy upon China’s society and culture

• has improved her/his intercultural communication skills in the context of Chinese culture

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

No prior knowledge of Chinese language or culture is required.

Syllabus

Week 1: Stylistic and theoretical distinctiveness of Chinese philosophy

Week 2: Origins of Chinese thought

Week 3: Confucius and his disciples

Week 4: Mencius

Week 5: Xunzi

Week 6: Laozi and Yang Zhu

Week 7: Zhuangzi

Week 8: Mozi and the Mohists

Week 9: School of Names

Week 10: Art of War. Shang Yang and Han Fei

Week 11: The Yin-Yang School and School of Agriculture. Correlativism under the Han. Evolution of Daoism

Week 12: Jia Yi and ancient economic thought. Eastern Han thinkers: Yang Xiong and Wang Chong

Week 13: Mysterious Learning and Pure Conversations

Week 14: Millenarianism of the Sect of Supreme Peace. Liezi and Daoist religion

Reading list

General, non-obligatory readings. For background and overview of the classical Chinese philosophy please consult the following texts:

1. Bryan W. Van Norden, Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy, Hackett Publishing, Indianapolis 2011.

2. Karyn Lai, An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 2008.

3. JeeLoo Liu. An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy: From Ancient Philosophy to Chinese Buddhism, Blackwell Publishing, Maiden 2006.

4. Chan Wing-tsit, A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy, Princeton University Press, Princeton 1969.

5. Dawid Rogacz, Chinese Philosophy of History. From Ancient Confucianism to the End of the Eighteenth Century, Bloomsbury Academic, London 2020.

Specific, obligatory readings for each class will be provided at the first meeting.