PHIL 360R Classical Chinese Philosophy

Gordon Mower

This class surveys the thought of the seven major pre-Qin classical Chinese philosophers: Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi. We read an anthology of their primary writings, and contemporary philosopher, Bryan W. Van Norden, gives us secondary guidance with his Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy. Students navigate the thinking of an ancient and alien culture on topics of virtue, ritual, government, self, Dao, etc.