TPHL655

An introduction to the basic texts and motifs of Confucianism and Daoism. Students will have the opportunity to read selected primary sources, starting with the classical figures of Kongzi (Confucius), Mengzi (Mencius), Laozi, and Zhuangzi, and venturing further into the later intellectual and spiritual culminations of the two traditions in Neo-Confucianism. The central themes of Dao, Heaven, Principle (li), vital cosmic energy (qi), humaneness (ren), ritual, self-cultivation, being natural (ziran), and non-action (wuwei), among others, will be explored. Efforts will also be made to bring specific texts, themes, and thinkers into dialogue with the Western philosophical and Christian theological traditions.

Level: PM (I), TM (I),