PHI 420 - Adv:Adv Humanities Seminar

Institution:

University of New England

Subject:

Philosophy

Description:

Understanding China's rich philosophical tradition is central to understanding Chinese history and culture. In perhaps no other culture has philosophy been taken so seriously. For 2500 years, mastery of Chinese philosophy, particularly Confucianism, was the mark of an educated person in China. Until the late 19th century, only those who could pass rigorous examinations in Confucian thought were given important roles in government, and those who did enjoyed social prestige and privilege. Chinese philosophy is a distinctive approach to some universal questions. How should life be lived? How should society be governed? What does it mean to be a humane person? What does it mean to be a cultivated person? Is human nature good or bad? What should be our relationship to the natural world? What is our relationship to "Heaven"? In answering these questions, Chinese philosophers developed a set of concepts that can enrich a westerner's understanding of these questions. Three great schools of thought - Confucianism (including Neo-Confuciansim), Daoism, and Buddhism - are living traditions in contemporary China. Each has roots in ancient China, although Buddhism is not native to China. We will study the most important figures from these traditions, Confucius and Laozi, for example. But we will also look at important figures from other schools of thought who influenced the course of Chinese philosophy. We will also look at the ways in which Chinese philosophy is reflected in Chinese art, literature, and politics.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Seminar

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.une.edu/

Phone Number:

(207) 283-0171

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Semester

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