Philosophy 153

This course offers an introduction to philosophical debate in the Warring States period of ancient China, the Classical Age of Chinese Philosophy and the seedbed from which grew all of the native currents of thought that survived from traditional China. We will focus on the competing conceptions of the Dao—the way for the individual to best live his life or for the community to conduct its affairs—associated with Confucius, Mozi, Yang Zhu, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi and Xunzi. The approach of the course will be both historical and critical, and will attempt to both situate Classical Chinese philosophical discourse in its intellectual-historical context and to bring out its continuing relevance.

Philip J. Ivanhoe and Bryan W. Van Norden, Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, 2nd Edition (Hackett, 2005) D. C. Lau, Confucius: The Analects (Penguin, 1979, 1998)