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Mr. Van
Norden |
Office:
Rockefeller Hall 207 |
Last updated January 23, 2007.
Neo-Confucianism is one of the most influential intellectual movements in China (and all of East Asia). It combines subtle metaphysics and a precise commentarial tradition with a demanding self-cultivationist ethic. This course (which is offered every spring) introduces Neo-Confucianism from a philosophical perspective. Because Neo-Confucianism draws heavily on Buddhist metaphysical ideas, we shall also briefly discuss Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. The course format consists of lecture and discussion, as well as extensive reading of primary texts (in translation). There will be several written assignments in this course and a final exam. Philosophy 110 (which is offered every fall) is a useful precursor to this course, but is not a prerequisite. No familiarity with Chinese history, philosophy, or language is assumed, but previous experience with philosophy of some kind is a prerequisite.
Recommended Texts:
Reserve Readings:
Online Texts:
In brief, your final grade is based on the following:
o Attendance
and class participation: 10% of
final grade
o Paper
(400-1200 words, due Feb. 12), 25% of final grade
o Paper
(400-1200 words, due Mar. 5), 25% of final grade
o Paper
(400-1200 words, due Apr. 23), 25% of final grade
o Final
exam: 15% of final grade
A substantial portion of your grade for the papers will depend on the
quality of your writing and manuscript preparation. The topics for the
papers are listed on the syllabus below under their due dates. I shall
frequently refer to my online A Supplement to
Strunk and White (follow the link at left). Papers may not be hand-written, and must be double-spaced. And,
whatever else you do, proofread your papers before handing them in! (Remember: a spell-check program is no substitute
for proofreading!) You should also buy a stapler if you do not already own
one. Unstapled papers will be handed back to you to be stapled
before I will grade them.
Unexcused late papers will drop 1/3 letter grade per class meeting
after the due date. (That is, an A paper that should have been handed in on a
Tuesday will receive an A- if it is handed in Thursday, and a B+ if it is
handed in the next Tuesday.) Excuses must be approved through the Dean of
Studies Office (x5255).
Regular attendance and at least some class participation are
required in this course. (If you are too shy to speak up in class, I count
talking to me during office hours toward class participation.) Absences can only be excused by the
Dean of Studies Office (x5255).
I am very happy to go over outlines and/or rough drafts of papers with you
before you write the final draft!
However, I am afraid that I cannot accept re-writes of papers. So just do your best on the paper you
hand in.
All books are available
through the Vassar College Book Store. Some required readings are articles
that are on reserve in the library.
Bring with you to class whatever book we are discussing that day. The
readings should be completed before the class meeting under which they are
listed, and then re-read after the class in which they are discussed.
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Lect. 1 |
Topics: Course introduction, overview, and mechanics. Possible additional topics: (1) Stereotypes about Chinese philosophy. (2) "Our" worldview vs. the Neo-Confucian view. |
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Theravadan Buddhism |
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Lect. 2 |
Topic: Indian Buddhism. Reading: The Questions of King Milinda, Part II, Sections 1-4, pp. 29-33, Section 13, pp. 39-41, Section 24, pp. 47-49, Part III, Section 4, pp. 56-57, Section 9, pp. 58-59. (You may also read my Glossary of Buddhist Terms.) |
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Lect. 3 |
Topic: Indian Buddhism
(continued). Reading: Same as
previous class. Question to Consider: How is the relationship between you
at age 7 and you today like the relationship between a candle at 7 AM and a
candle at midnight? |
Mahayana Buddhism in China |
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Lect. 4 |
Topic: The metaphysical basis of Hua-yen Buddhism. Reading: Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of Understanding, pp. 1-54. |
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Lect. 5 |
Topic: Hua-yen Buddhism (continued). Reading: "Treatise on the Golden Lion," in Wing-tsit Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, pp. 409-413. (In general, only read the translations in this book. Chan's prefatory notes and comments are frequently confused and unreliable.) Question to Consider: How does the relationship between a leaf and a tree illustrate the Hua-yen slogan that "all is one and one is all"? How is the leaf (one) the tree, and how is the tree (all) the leaf? |
Chan (Zen) Buddhism |
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Lect. 6 Mon., Feb. 12 |
Topic: Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism. Video screening. Reading: Skim this prior to class. Paper due (400-1200 words) due: Paper topic is here. |
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Lect. 7 |
Class topic: Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism (continued). Reading: Hui Neng, "The Platform Sutra" (follow the link at left). Question to Consider: What does the metaphysical monism of Ch'an imply about the proper practice of meditation? What does monism imply about the relationship between meditation and other human activities? HINT: Your version of "The Platform Sutra" includes a translation of the original text (the numbered sections) and an explanatory commentary by the translator (Ivanhoe). You might want to skim the numbered sections first, then go back and read the whole thing more slowly, including the commentary. (Make sure you are clear about which parts are interpretive commentary and which are the original text.) |
Paleo-Confucianism |
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Lect. 8 |
Topic: Early Confucianism. Reading: Philip J. Ivanhoe, Confucian Moral Self Cultivation, "Introduction" and ch. 1, pp. ix-xvii, 1-14. (You may also wish to consult my list of "Some Key Chinese Philosophical Terms.") |
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Lect. 9 |
Topic: Early Confucianism. Reading: Philip J. Ivanhoe, Confucian Moral Self Cultivation, chs. 2: Mengzi and 3: Xunzi. |
Confucian and Buddhist Ethics |
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Lect. 10 |
Class Topic: Buddhism and Daoism in popular literature. Readings:
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Lect. 11 |
Topic: The Confucian Critique of Buddhism. Readings:
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Background Cosmology |
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Lect. 12 Mon., Mar. 5 |
Response paper (400-1200 words) due: Paper topic is here. Topic: The I Ching. Reading: "Selections from the 'Appended Remarks,' Pt 1," in Chan, pp. 265-268. HINTS: "Ch'ien," in the reading, refers to the hexagram that consists only of unbroken lines, while "k'un" refers to the hexagram that consists only of broken lines. Here is an image of the ch'ien hexagram beneath the character for "ch'ien." Here is an image of the k'un hexagram beneath the character for "k'un." Here is an image of a sample "trigram," the one for "wind." |
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Lect. 13 |
Topics: Yin-yang and Five Phases Cosmology. Readings:
HINT: It may be easier to skim the first three readings, read my essay, then go back and re-read the first three texts. |
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Spring Break |
Mature Neo-Confucian Metaphysics and Ethics |
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Lect. 14 |
Topic: Neo-Confucian Metaphysics. Readings: B.W. Van Norden, "What Is Living and What Is Dead in the Philosophy of Zhu Xi?" (follow the link at left). |
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Lect. 15 |
Topic: Neo-Confucian Ethics. Readings:
Optional reading: A.C. Graham, Two Chinese Philosophers, on reserve. |
Re-Interpreting the Classics |
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Lect. 16 |
Topic: How Neo-Confucians Re-read Their Classics in the Light of the New Metaphysics. Reading: Zhu Xi, selections from "Collected Commentaries on the Analects and the Mengzi" (follow the link at left). |
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Lect. 17 |
Topic: Disagreements within Neo-Confucianism over Interpreting the Classics. Readings:
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Educational Philosophy |
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Lect. 18 |
Topic: "Honoring the Moral Nature" vs. "Inquiry
and Study." Readings: o Chu
Hsi in Chan, chapter 34, nos. 1-4, 25-30. o Lu
Hsiang-shan, in Chan, chapter 33, nos. 19-20, 23-39. o Wang
Yang-ming, in Chan, chapter 35, nos. 3, 135 and 319. |
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Lect. 19 |
Topic: The examination system. Readings:
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Metaphysics and Epistemology |
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Lect. 20 |
Topic: Principle, Mind and the Great Ultimate. Readings:
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Lect. 21 |
Topic: Knowledge and Action. Reading:
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Beyond the Chinese Mainstream |
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Lect. 22 Mon., Apr. 23 |
Paper (at least 1200 words) due: Paper topic is here. Topic: Gender and Sexuality in Buddhism and Confucianism Readings:
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Lect. 23 |
Topic: The Four-Seven Debate in Korea. Reading: "Correspondence" of Yi T'oegye, Yi Yulgok et al., on reserve. |
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Beyond Neo-Confucianism |
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Lect. 24 |
Topic: Dai Zhen (Tai Chen) and His Philological Critique of Orthodox Confucianism. Readings:
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Lect. 25 |
Topic: Zhang Xuecheng and His
Developmental Picture of Confucianism. Reading: Zhang Xuecheng, "On
the Dao" (follow the link at left). |
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Lect. 26 |
Last class meeting. Topic: Has Confucianism a Future? Readings: o Lu
Xun, "Kong Yiji." o Ivanhoe,
Confucian Moral Self Cultivation,
"Conclusion," pp. 101-104. o B.W.
Van Norden, "Pluralistic Confucianism"
(follow the link at left). Optional reading: Lu Xun,
"Diary of a Madman," on reserve (in the same folder as "Kong
Yiji"). Course evaluations will be handed out today, so do not miss this class! |
It is impossible to understand philosophy (Eastern or Western) after one reading. Even professional philosophers must read a philosophical text at least twice in order to understand it. So make sure to read every assignment in this course at least twice!
I do not recommend reading additional
outside sources on the topics covered in this course. (Many secondary books and
translations are very unreliable.) Just read, re-read, and re-re-read the
assignments. You are encouraged to discuss the readings, lectures and paper
topics with other students and with the instructor. However, you must write up
your papers by yourself. In addition, if you use any quotations,
phrases or even ideas in your papers that you did not come up with on your own,
you must acknowledge this fact in a citation. Failure to do so is plagiarism (a
serious offense). It does not make any
difference whether the source is a book, encyclopedia article, oral
conversation, web site or anything else. Cite it!
My office hours are your time! Make
use of them! In lecture, you are one of several dozen students. In my office
hours, you usually get one on one attention. Take advantage of this
opportunity!
Academic accommodations are available for students with documented
disabilities. Please schedule an appointment with the instructor early in the
semester to discuss any accommodation that may be needed for the course. All
accommodations must be approved through the Office of Disability and Support
Services (ext. 7584) as indicated in their accommodation letter.
