Special consideration is given to the ethical, religious and political thought of the Confucian, Mohist and Daoist schools. The doctrines associated with these early Chinese philosophical movements, along with Buddhism which came to China around the first century A.D., affected cultural developments in art, philosophy, religion, science, and politics throughout Chinese history. The course concentrates on the theories of human nature that were associated with these early Chinese thinkers and the ways in which these theories served as the foundation for their ethical, religious and political views. No knowledge of Chinese is required.
Readings are in translation.
Reserve Readings 1. Fung Yu-lan, A History of Chinese Philosophy Volume I, Derk Bodde tr. 8 Sept. Early Concepts in Chinese Religion and Philosophy, Introduction to Confucius. 10 Sept. Discussion of Ethical Theories and Lecture One. 13 Sept. Confucius' view of history, society and the self.