Ethics and Agency in Classical Chinese Thought (Spring 2021)

How can individuals find effective agency in a world of continuous social and asocial influence? Does human nature contain moral content, or are moral norms cultural constructs? Are emotions or affective responses reliable guides to action? How can we discern the proper dao or way to live? The aim of this course is to illuminate these enduring philosophical questions by using insights from classical Chinese thought.

Among the topics we will examine: the Confucian defense of tradition and ceremony as appropriate methods to cultivate the self and foster social cohesion; the Mohist critique of tradition and their search for objective evaluative criteria; Daoist metaethical skepticism concerning the entire project of trying to adjudicate right from wrong; and a 'discriminate-and-response' or 'pattern-recognition' model of agency that may be common across a range of thinkers from this period.

Readings will include primary texts in translation, relevant secondary literature (which has been growing in philosophical sophistication), as well as some contemporary philosophical and psychological research.

No prior familiarity with Chinese philosophy or the Chinese language will be assumed or required. If there is sufficient interest, I may organize a weekly crash-course in the classical Chinese language alongside (and in addition to) the seminar coursework.

We will be reading substantial portions of three texts in the course: the Lunyu 論語 (also known as the Analects), the Mozi 墨子, and the Zhuangzi 莊子. All of the editions below are easy to purchase online and inexpensive.

You may use any of the following translations for the Lunyu (Analects) (listed in rough order of preference):

• Slingerland, E. G. (2003). Confucius Analects: With Selections from Traditional Commentaries. Hackett Publishing.
• Ni, P. (2017). Understanding the Analects of Confucius: A New Translation of Lunyu with Annotations. SUNY Press.
• Huang, C. (1997). The Analects of Confucius. Oxford University Press.
• Ames, R. T., & Rosemont, H., Jr. (2010). The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. Random House Publishing Group.

For the Mozi, please get this edition:

• Fraser, C. J. (2020). The Essential Mòzĭ: Ethical, Political, and Dialectical Writings. Oxford University Press.

For the Zhuangzi, please get this edition:

• Ziporyn, B. (2020). Zhuangzi: The Complete Writings. Hackett Publishing.

If you have other editions and would like to use them, please reach out to me through Teams chat. Happy to discuss.

30% = Weekly Teams Discussions

All participants will post short (~300 words) weekly reactions to the readings on the course's Microsoft Team. The written comments may raise some questions, reflections, or general reactions to the whole reading or to very specific passages or arguments. (I do not want summaries of the readings.) These should be posted to the relevant Teams channel by the Tuesday prior to the Thursday meeting. Beginning Wednesday, participants will read one another's posts and respond to one or more of them. Apart from these instructions I'll leave things open-ended. Sometimes you'll have a lot to say, sometimes... not so much. (I will of course join the discussion and try to say helpful things.) These posts are not only to help us get to know one another's perspectives but also to help me fine tune the lectures (sometimes longer, sometimes shorter) that will lead every class. (30% of final grade)

70% = Final Paper

Regular participation is expected, both on Teams and during the synchronous sessions. Come each week prepared to discuss the assigned readings. I will prepare short lectures overviewing the week’s material, discuss and defend my own views, field questions, and solicit insights from each of you. Cogent contribution to class discussion will count favorably towards the determination of your final grade.

NOTE: Auditors are expected to participate in all aspects of the course except for writing final papers.

I plan to use the 'Meeting' function (the Team version of Zoom, basically) to hold all the meetings. My reason for doing this is that it will automatically save any files or questions / comments that are posted to the chat in the weekly channel for reference. I ask that everyone turn on their cameras for the duration of the meeting, barring unusual circumstances. Just log into Teams the day of the meeting and you'll see a live link in the relevant weekly channel for you to join. I'll log in about 15 minutes early if anyone wants to hang out and chat. I'll also plan to have a short break halfway through each meeting for everyone to stretch and refresh.