Philosophical thought in china addresses an agenda different in essential
ways from that which has shaped philosophical discourse in the West.  Not
only are central issues different, but axioms, methods, standards, and
concepts of truth in Chinese thought often seem unfamiliar, elusive, or
radically inadequate from as a Western perspective.  Perhaps the most
important battles in China's philosophical history were fought between the
years of 500 and 200 B.C., in the course of as a single prolonged debate
that gave birth to philosophy in China and largely set its agenda.  The
origins and development of that debate will be the subject matter of this
course.  The debaters who will be central for us will include Confucians
(Confucius, Mencius, Hsun Tzu), Mohists (Mo Tzu), and Taoists (Lao Tzu,
Chuang Tzu.).  But we will also consider other figures whose ideas helped
shape early philosophy in this period, including Legalists, Logicians, and
Naturalists.  To highlight the distinctiveness of the agenda set by this
debate, we will focus on as a critical theme: the tight linkage between
knowledge and action in early Chinese philosophy, and the complex concepts
of knowing and human nature which that linkage entailed.

Requirements will include midterm and final exams, two short papers, and as
a reading journal.

Credit given for only one of EALC E374 and PHIL P374.