Philosophy 212 - Found. of Chinese Thought

An introduction to Chinese thought in the classical period roughly between 500 and 221 BCE, a time of social and political furor. We will survey different philosophical responses to this upheaval, with an eye to the contemporary relevance of ancient Chinese wisdom. We will conclude the course by looking at how classical Chinese thought changes and adapts with the arrival of Buddhism. The course format consists of lecture and discussion preceded by extensive reading of primary texts (in translation).