PHIL342 - Sagehood

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Academic Year 2004/2005

Sagehood
PHIL 342 FA

Crosslistings:
RELI 327
EAST 327

This course is designed to explore the Confucian ideal of sagehood, especially as it was articulated by neo-Confucians over the last thousand or so years. We will also look at sagehood in comparative perspective by considering both descriptions of, and arguments for and against, similar personality ideals in ancient and contemporary Western thought. Our goals will be both interpretive and evaluative: We will ask both how one is supposed to learn to be a sage, and whether there are aspects of this process and ideal that we ought to adopt ourselves. In summary, we will engage with the idea of sagehood from a variety of perspectives: intellectual history, comparative philosophy, moral psychology, and personal cultivation.

MAJOR READINGS

Readings will be from both primary sources, in translation, and a variety of secondary works.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Several in-class presentations and short writing assignments, one five page paper, and one research project.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

There are no specific requirements, but some background in one or more of the following is expected: Chinese philosophy, Chinese history, other traditions of self-cultivation or moral psychology. Students unsure of their preparation for the class should contact the instructor.

All students who have not taken at least one of Philosophy 205 (Classical Chinese Philosophy) or Philosophy 206 (Neo-Confucian Chinese Philosophy) will be required to participate in a three-hour "Chinese Philosophy Bootcamp" at a time to be arranged at the first class meeting.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA PHIL Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Angle,Stephen

Times: ..T.R.. 01:10PM-02:30PM; Location: FISK403;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 15)

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Ethical Reasoning

Permission: Permission of Instructor Required

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005