Advanced Topics in Philosophy II: Writing Option

Topic for Spring 2027: East Asian Philosophy and Self-Cultivation. Philosophy is often introduced in the West as beginning in ancient Greece, where it was not only a tradition of rigorous argumentation but also a way of life aimed at shaping character, developing reason, and refining aesthetic sensitivity. At roughly the same time, however, powerful philosophical traditions were also developing in East Asia that emphasized a practical discipline of self-transformation. This course surveys major philosophical traditions in East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea) through the lens of self-cultivation. We will study Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist philosophy, with attention to how theoretical principles are expressed in embodied practices such as Zhu Xi’s eight steps of self-cultivation or Dogen's account of meditation. We will also examine the modern Kyoto School’s explicit engagement with Western philosophy to address questions of embodiment, selfhood, and "nothingness." Alongside close reading and discussion, we will engage in exercises that connect philosophical ideas to lived practice. We will apply course concepts to reflect on our habits of attention (fragmented as they are in today's digital world) and explore East Asian arts as modes of aesthetic self-cultivation (for example, shanshui or mountain-and-water painting and the Japanese tea ceremony). No knowledge of East Asian languages is assumed. The writing option of this course enables students to delve more deeply into the concepts and questions involved with the topic through additional research and writing assignments.