This is an introductory survey course on Chinese philosophy. It covers the period from early Confucian and Daoist thought through to Chinese philosophy in the modern China, with a focus on the classical period. The course looks at the representative schools, their main thinkers and writings, and the ideas they developed. An understanding of the foundations of Chinese thought helps us to make explicit and self-conscious some of the radically different assumptions of our own intellectual traditions. It also provides background knowledge crucial to an informed understanding of many developments in modern and contemporary China.

• Acquire Understand key concepts in Asian Studies and Chinese Intellectual History

• Acquire a different cultural perspective from which to view oneself, one’s culture and one’s society

• Integrate theoretical knowledge with empirical examples

• Learn to engage with the ideas and perspectives of other learners

• Learn to think critically

• Learn analytic skills for developing and defending an argument

• Develop skills in synthesising and contextualizing new information

• Develop skills to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources, both Western and Asian

• Develop an ability to work in cooperative groups on key issues in Asian Studies and communicate findings to other course members

1 research essay (4000 words; 40%);

2 tutorial papers (1000 words each 30%);

tutorial participation (10%);

workshop participation (10%);

2 tutorial handouts (10%)

32 contact hours per semester

Individual and Society in Asia A&B or permission of lecturer

An anthology (or 'brick') of readings compiled by the course lecturer. Supplementary materials will be handed out in class and students are provided with a bibliography