PHIL 214 The Hundred Schools: Rebellion and Responsibility in Early China
The Hundred Schools: Rebellion and Responsibility in Early China
Although human concerns have been similar through history—like ‘What is important for humans to thrive?’ or ‘How do we know what we know?’—answers are sometimes very different in different historical periods. Of course, in any period there will be disagreement, so this course will focus not only on some general differences between thinking in early China versus the present day, but also on disagreements within early China itself. For example, many thinkers in early China take us to have substantial responsibilities to each other, so we will discuss whether this thinking provides a viable alternative to the contemporary U.S., where a marginalized person must often depend largely on themselves for support. We discuss Confucian views of political legitimacy and rebellion. We will also discuss disagreements between Chinese thinkers from this period, including what constitutes human nature and whether rituals (including funerals) contribute to a good life or are simply a waste of resources. We also discuss different thinkers’ understanding of the Dao (or the Way), our relation to nature, and how to engage in the highest form of action, non-action (wu wei). This course focuses primarily on the vibrant Warring States period, roughly 475-221 BC, which includes the beginnings of Confucianism and Daoism, as well as Mohism, ‘Legalism’, and the School of Names or logicians.
This course satisfies the History of Philosophy distribution requirement for the Philosophy Major.
This course satisfies the Pre-1800 Core Requirement.
Prerequisite
N/A
Corequisite
N/A