Asian Philosophy
Course: PHIL
220, Winter 2003
Time & Location: MWF 8:30-9:45, Dewing 200.
Professor: Jim
Behuniak
E-mail: behuniak@kzoo.edu
Office & Phone: Forum House, Rm 204.
Tel. 337-7349.
Office Hours: Mon. & Weds. 1:00 to 3:00, or by
appointment.
Required Texts:
The Analects of
Confucius, tr.
Ames/Rosemont (Ballantine Press)
Tao Te Ching tr. Feng (Grove Press)
The Essential Chuang Tzu, tr. Hamil/Seaton (Shambhala Press)
Bhagavad Gita, tr. Mascaro (Viking Press)
What the Buddha Taught, Rahula (Grove Press)
Zen Action/Zen Person, Kasulis (Univ. of Hawaii Press)
Course
Description:
In this course we examine some basic texts
and traditions in Asian thought, covering classical China, India, and Japan. We
will limit ourselves to the central traditions: Classical Confucianism, Daoism,
basic Hinduism, Early Buddhism, and Japanese Zen.
We will read mostly primary texts, focusing
on the Confucian Analects and the Daoist text, Daodejing (Tao
Te Ching), as well as on the Indian Bhagavad Gita. While this will
be a general "survey" course, it will involve sustained reading of
these and other texts, the goal being to arrive at a subtle and philosophically
sophisticated understanding of their content and message.
Traditions and texts will be taken on their
own terms, but the philosophical content of these will be traced in such a way
that we will come to recognize the trajectory of certain dominant themes and
ideas in Asian thinking.
Specifically, we will observe the emergence of
a non-substantialist, relational notion of the "self" in Buddhism,
and follow this idea as it filters through an independent, Chinese
philosophical environment and culminates in Japanese Zen Buddhism.
This course aims to provide students with
more than a superficial exposure to the philosophical riches of Asian thought.
Our work together will be text-based and intellectually rigorous, and our
treatment of these traditions will be one that is sensitive to the common
assumptions and misconceptions that often compromise the transmission of Asian
ideas in the Western world.
Course Goals:
·
to gain a sophisticated
understanding of Asian thought.
·
to increase sensitivity
to Western cultural and philosophical assumptions that impact the understanding
of Asian philosophical texts.
·
to improve skills of
critical reading, writing, and discussion.
·
to foster an
appreciation of how Asian ways of thinking can enrich our lives.
Expectations,
Requirements, and Policies:
Students will be expected to come to class
having read the daily assignment and prepared to participate in discussions of
that assignment.
To this end, a number of reading questions
(sometimes one, sometimes several) will be distributed in class to correspond
with the readings. These questions are designed to help you think through the
material as you read and to facilitate your participation in class.
Both attendance and participation will be
noticed. Both might factor into your final grade. I reserve the right to
increase or decrease grades by one-half letter grade on the basis of
participation. As for attendance, failure to attend three classes will result
in an automatic reduction of one-half letter grade. The fourth absence will
result in an automatic reduction of a full letter grade.
Lateness to class will be frowned upon. So I
reserve the right to adjust final grades by one-half letter grade (down) for
repeated lateness and to adjust final grades one-half letter grade (up) for
perfect, punctual attendance.
Absence will be considered
"excused" only in rare cases (this normally involves the student
demonstrating the need for such through proper documentation).
Students will also be required to write
four papers: three papers 3-5 pages in length and one paper 6-7 pages in
length. Topics for the first three papers will be either specified or
suggested, whereas the fourth, final paper will be developed in consultation
with the professor.
All papers are due on the date specified in
the course calendar and late papers will not be accepted (or, accepted under
very rare circumstances, like those of excused absences — see above).
ALSO, I am committed to a classroom environment in which every student can
perform at his or her best. If you have a physical or learning disability that
might interfere with your performance, please see me as soon as possible so
that arrangements can be made. All such disabilities should be registered with
the Dean of Student’s Office.
NOTE: The goal of this course, and of education in
general, is to further your ability to engage the new, to connect ideas, and to
communicate what you feel and think in ways that make a genuine contribution.
For this reason, plagiarism and improper collaboration on class assignments
will be taken very seriously. On these matters, please consult Kalamazoo
College’s Honor System to which each of us is asked to abide. Do consult with
me if there is any confusion in this area. In every case, instances of academic
irresponsibility will be forwarded to the Student Development Office and will
result in severe grade reduction.
Course Calendar:
W 1/8 Read
Analects pp. 1-6, 20-37, 45-65
F 1/10 Read
Analects
M 1/13 Read
Analects
W 1/15 Read
Analects
F 1/17 Read
Analects
M 1/20 Martin
Luther King Day
W 1/22 Read
Tao Te Ching Paper #1 Due.
F 1/24 Read
Tao Te Ching
M 1/27 Read
Tao Te Ching
W 1/29 Read
Tao Te Ching
F 1/31 Have
Read Chuang Tzu, pp. 1-21.
M 2/3 Read
Chuang Tzu, pp. 22-62.
W 2/5 Read
Chuang Tzu, pp. 63-111.
F 2/7 Read
Chuang Tzu, pp. 112-158.
M 2/10 Read
"Vedas and Upanisads," (handout). Paper #2 Due.
W 2/12 Read
Bhagavad Gita, pp. 3-30
F 2/14 Read
Bhagavad Gita, pp. 31-51.
M 2/17 Read
Bhagavad Gita, pp. 52-86.
W 2/19 Read
What the Buddha Taught, pp. 1-50, 92-94.
F 2/21 Read
What the Buddha Taught, pp. 50-66, 95-105.
M 2/24 Read
What the Buddha Taught, pp. 67-89.
W 2/26 Read
What the Buddha Taught, pp. 109-138.
F 2/28 Read
"Heart Sutra" (handout).
M 3/3 Read
Zen Action Zen Person, pp. 3-52. Paper #3 Due.
W 3/5 Read
Zen Action Zen Person, pp. 55-86.
F 3/7 Read
Zen Action Zen Person, pp. 87-126.
M 3/10 Read
Zen Action Zen Person, pp. 127-154.
W 3/12 Read
"Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi" (handout).
F 3/14 Final
Discussion Final Paper: Due 3/19