PHI 180 Chinese Philosophy

This course will study the origins and development of Chinese philosophy through the writings of Kong Fuzi, Mozi, Mengzi, Laozi, Huineng, Wang, and Mao. The focus will be on understanding how the many strands of philosophical ideas have created what is often misunderstood by the west as a monolithic culture. But Zhongguo hua, the essence of China, has always been a mix of homegrown philosophy with outside influences, whether religious, colonial, or ideological. The result is a culture that is as much centralized as it is fluid and pragmatic. Prerequisite: One lower division course in philosophy. GS-VB1