David M Sena

Course Description
In this course we examine the philosophy and historical context of classical Confucianism.  Focusing on the translated writings of Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi, as well as on recently discovered texts found in ancient tombs, this course examines the systems of thought in early Confucian writings.  In addition to discussing the history of ideas, we will also pay close attention to the cultural background of the period and to the social context in which these texts were written by considering such issues as literacy and the transmission of specialized knowledge in ancient China.  The focus of the course will be on the classical period (sixth through third centuries B.C.E.), but we will also consider the legacy of Confucian thought and institutions in the early empire and beyond.

Course Goals
The primary goal of this course is to help you develop your ability to read closely and understand seminal texts from the classical period of Chinese literature.  A fundamental principle in this course is that we cannot fully understand classical Confucian texts without considering the social, intellectual, and cultural milieu within which these texts were generated.  Therefore the second goal will be to learn how to use social and cultural history as a method for enhancing one's understanding of texts.  Third, in focusing on Confucian thinkers and texts, we aim to understand the philosophical content of this important tradition, to understand the how these ideas fit within the larger social and intellectual context of ancient China, and to assess their relevance to our own lives.

Grading

class participation: 20%
informal writing: 15%
short paper: 20%
midterm exam: 20%
final paper: 25%

Textbooks

The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. Trans. Roger T. Ames and Henry Rosemont, Jr. New York: Ballantine, 1998 [PL 2478 L328].

The Essential Mengzi: Selected Passages with Traditional Commentary. Trans. Bryan W. Van Norden. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2009.

Hsun Tzu: Basic Writings. Trans. Burton Watson. New York: Columbia University Press, 1963 [B 128 H66 E55].

Additional readings available electronically.

How does one transform oneself into a better person? This question lies at the heart of so many philosophical and religious traditions throughout the world. This was especially so in pre-modern China, where concern with self cultivation is fundamental to many intellectual and religious discourses, including Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. In this course we will examine ideas and practices in Chinese culture related to self cultivation as they are represented in writings drawn from a wide selection of philosophical, religious, and occult traditions. Far from providing a uniform understanding of this issue, these texts provide diverse examples of motivations, beliefs and techniques related to self cultivation. Whether the goal was to attain moral perfection, sagehood, immortality, buddhahood, or just tranquility, these beliefs and practices of self cultivation demonstrate a concern for human refinement that is deeply embedded within the culture of traditional China.

This course carries a University Writing Flag.

TEXTS:

Philip J. Ivanhoe, Confucian Moral Self Cultivation, 2nd ed. (Indianapolis: Hackett, 2000), ISBN: 0-87220-508-8.

Philip J. Ivanhoe and Bryan W. Van Norden, Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, (Indianapolis: Hackett, 2006), ISBN: 0-87220-780-3.

Additional readings on Electronic Reserve.

GRADING:
class participation: 20%
informal writing: 20%
short paper: 15%
midterm exam: 20%
final paper: 25%