Chinese and Western Philosophy: An Introduction

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Chinese and Western PhilosophyAn Introduction

• PHIL 1004
• Spring 2008

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Introduction and Mechanics

• Introduce Ourselves
• What is Philosophy?
• -- Love of wisdom and ??
• -- Religion and philosophy
• -- Wisdom culture and philosophy
• -- Philosophy as fundamental beliefs
• -- Philosophy as a kind of activity
• -- Special features of philosophical study
• Do not anticipate clear cut answers.
• No presuppositions.
• Confusion and disturbance of the mind is
  anticipated.
• Learn to philosophize yourselves. Instructors
  roll as a coach

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• Why study philospohy?
• -- Live more human-like life
• -- Become more perceptive
• -- Become better at reasoning
• Divisions of Philosophy
• -- Metaphysics
• -- Epistemology
• -- Logic
• -- Axiology Ethics and aesthetics
• And philosophies of subjects

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• The Approach of this Course Chinese and
  Western
• Why comparative?
• Difference as resources
• -- Different focal questions
• -- Different conceptual systems
• -- Different orientations
• Issue --Does China have philosophy,
  traditionally?
• Caution -- Do not over-simplify the matter.

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• Mechanics of this Course
• See syllabus
• Daily One-minute Paper
• 1. What is the big point you learned in class
  today?
• 2. What is the main, unanswered question you
  leave class with today?