Religion 245 - Indian Philosophy

(Offered as ASLC-XXX, PHIL-XXX, RELI-245) What is ultimately real? Does God exist? Is there such a thing as a soul? How do we know? What is beauty? What is the ideal political state?  When, if ever, is violence legitimate? This course introduces systems of metaphysics, epistemology, aesthetics, philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, and political philosophy in ancient India, along with modern Indian interpreters. We will be looking at a range of philosophical texts from the traditions now referred to as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, with a focus on their debates.

Fall semester: Professor Heim (H)

How to handle overenrollment: null

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Close readings of challenging texts; engaging arguments and debating others; and writing clear, logically-structured arguments.