Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course offers students opportunities for exploring philosophical questions by interpreting sources from Eastern and Western contexts in comparative and intercultural ways. By adopting Orientalism as a methodological and critical tool, we will consider the nature of philosophical questioning and interpretation as well as what it means for philosophy to be thought of and practiced comparatively. Students will learn the basic concepts and methods in Comparative Philosophy, with a special focus on Asian Philosophical traditions. Students will also have a chance to develop their own view on what it means to do Comparative philosophy while simultaneously interrogating their own assumptions about Philosophy.

Associated skills

• The ability to convey a theme or argument clearly and coherently;
• the ability to analyze critically and to synthesize the work of others;
• the ability to acquire and apply information from appropriate sources, and reference sources appropriately;
• and competence in standard written English.

Learning outcomes

• To become familiar with some of the key texts in orientalism and comparative philosophy.
• To understand the most important problems involved in comparing modes of thought from different cultural traditions.
• To be able to understand, analyze, critique and defend arguments deployed in comparative philosophical discussions.
• Critically, comparatively, and interculturally analyze the forms and styles of philosophical interpretation and argumentation presented in the course readings.
• Explain the role and significance of philosophical interpretations from diverse contexts and perspectives.
• Develop a well-informed account of questions about comparative and intercultural philosophy.

Sustainable Development Goals

Prerequisites

This is a reading and discussion intensive course, so it is essential that the students arrive at each class meeting having prepared the readings for that day. Readings are due on the day under which they are listed. The students are expected to become familiar with the basic bibliography before the beginning of the course. A more comprehensive bibliography, including the most relevant studies in a variety of languages, will be provided during the course.

Contents

1. What is Philosophy? Philosophy and Cultural Difference

2. Orientalism and Eastern philosophies

3. Comparative and Intercultural Approaches to Philosophy: On Ethics, Methods and Hermeneutics. Asian Women in Philosophy

4. World philosophies: Experiences and practices of philosophizing in a Global Perspective 

Teaching Methods

The learning framework for this course is blended teaching: includes in-person, classroom-based, synchronous instruction and a “flipped classroom" pedagogy where students watch pre-recorded lecture videos and complete assigned readings as homework before in-person class sessions where they work together on group activities. Thus, the course is designed to be highly participatory through a facilitated process of critical self-reflection by means of individual papers and group discussion. 

Evaluation

Class participation (traditional or online) is required. There will be three group activities. In addition, each student will be expected to work on a case study relevant to the course. Grades will be determined according to the following scheme:

• 3 Group Activities (15% each of course grade)
• 1 Case Study: Oral Presentation (20% of course grade) + Final Paper (35% of course grade) 

Bibliography and information resources

Berger, Douglas, Indian and Intercultural Philosophy. London: Bloomsbury, 2021

Fornari, Emanuela, Boundary Lines. Philosophy and Postcolonialism. New York: SUNY, 2019

Jullien, François, On the Universal: the uniform, the common and dialogue between cultures. Cambridge: Polity, 2014

Hershock, Peter D. - Roger Ames, eds., Human Beings or Human Becomings? : A Conversation with Confucianism on the Concept of Person. Albany, NY: SUNY, 2021

Kalmalson, Leah, Cross-Cultural Existentialism. On the Meaning of Life in Asian and Western Thought. London: Bloomsbury, 2020

Kirloskar, Monika - Leah Kalmanson, A practical guide to World Philosophies. London: Bloomsbury, 2021

Littlejohn, Ronnie L., Chinese Philosophy and Philosophers. An Introduction. London: Bloomsbury, 2022 

Moeller, Hans-Georg - Andrew Whitehead, Wisdom and Philosophy: Contemporary and Comparative Approaches. London: Bloomsbury, 2017

Raud, Rein, Asian Worldviews. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell, 2021

Van Norden, Bryan, Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto. New York: Columbia University Press, 2017

Teaching Plan Information

Presentation

This course offers students opportunities for exploring philosophical questions by interpreting sources from Eastern and Western contexts in comparative and intercultural ways. By adopting Orientalism as a methodological and critical tool, we will consider the nature of philosophical questioning and interpretation as well as what it means for philosophy to be thought of and practiced comparatively. Students will learn the basic concepts and methods in Comparative Philosophy, with a special focus on Asian Philosophical traditions. Students will also have a chance to develop their own view on what it means to do Comparative philosophy while simultaneously interrogating their own assumptions about Philosophy.

Associated skills

• The ability to convey a theme or argument clearly and coherently;
• the ability to analyze critically and to synthesize the work of others;
• the ability to acquire and apply information from appropriate sources, and reference sources appropriately;
• and competence in standard written English.

Learning outcomes

• To become familiar with some of the key texts in orientalism and comparative philosophy.
• To understand the most important problems involved in comparing modes of thought from different cultural traditions.
• To be able to understand, analyze, critique and defend arguments deployed in comparative philosophical discussions.
• Critically, comparatively, and interculturally analyze the forms and styles of philosophical interpretation and argumentation presented in the course readings.
• Explain the role and significance of philosophical interpretations from diverse contexts and perspectives.
• Develop a well-informed account of questions about comparative and intercultural philosophy.

Sustainable Development Goals

Prerequisites

This is a reading and discussion intensive course, so it is essential that the students arrive at each class meeting having prepared the readings for that day. Readings are due on the day under which they are listed. The students are expected to become familiar with the basic bibliography before the beginning of the course. A more comprehensive bibliography, including the most relevant studies in a variety of languages, will be provided during the course.

Contents

1. What is Philosophy? Philosophy and Cultural Difference

2. Orientalism and Eastern philosophies

3. Comparative and Intercultural Approaches to Philosophy: On Ethics, Methods and Hermeneutics. Asian Women in Philosophy

4. World philosophies: Experiences and practices of philosophizing in a Global Perspective 

Teaching Methods

The learning framework for this course is blended teaching: includes in-person, classroom-based, synchronous instruction and a “flipped classroom" pedagogy where students watch pre-recorded lecture videos and complete assigned readings as homework before in-person class sessions where they work together on group activities. Thus, the course is designed to be highly participatory through a facilitated process of critical self-reflection by means of individual papers and group discussion. 

Evaluation

Class participation (traditional or online) is required. There will be three group activities. In addition, each student will be expected to work on a case study relevant to the course. Grades will be determined according to the following scheme:

• 3 Group Activities (15% each of course grade)
• 1 Case Study: Oral Presentation (20% of course grade) + Final Paper (35% of course grade) 

Bibliography and information resources

Berger, Douglas, Indian and Intercultural Philosophy. London: Bloomsbury, 2021

Fornari, Emanuela, Boundary Lines. Philosophy and Postcolonialism. New York: SUNY, 2019

Jullien, François, On the Universal: the uniform, the common and dialogue between cultures. Cambridge: Polity, 2014

Hershock, Peter D. - Roger Ames, eds., Human Beings or Human Becomings? : A Conversation with Confucianism on the Concept of Person. Albany, NY: SUNY, 2021

Kalmalson, Leah, Cross-Cultural Existentialism. On the Meaning of Life in Asian and Western Thought. London: Bloomsbury, 2020

Kirloskar, Monika - Leah Kalmanson, A practical guide to World Philosophies. London: Bloomsbury, 2021

Littlejohn, Ronnie L., Chinese Philosophy and Philosophers. An Introduction. London: Bloomsbury, 2022 

Moeller, Hans-Georg - Andrew Whitehead, Wisdom and Philosophy: Contemporary and Comparative Approaches. London: Bloomsbury, 2017

Raud, Rein, Asian Worldviews. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell, 2021

Van Norden, Bryan, Taking Back Philosophy: A Multicultural Manifesto. New York: Columbia University Press, 2017