(Second semester, 2011–2012 Academic Year)
(Lectures: Tues, Thurs 1:00 – 1:55 pm, LE5
Tutorials: TBA)
This survey course is a comparative introduction to philosophy focusing primarily on topics in ethics and politics. Lectures and readings will draw equally on the Chinese and Western philosophical traditions and indicate various respects in which the two can be put into dialogue. Readings include Confucius 孔子, Mòzǐ 墨子, Mencius 孟子, Dàodéjīng 道德經, Xúnzǐ 荀子, Zhuāngzǐ 莊子, and Hán Fēi 韓非, on the Chinese side, along with Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Bentham, Mill, Marx, Nietzsche, Bakunin, Russell, Berlin, Hart, Wolff, Rawls, Nozick, Taylor, and Scanlon, on the Western side.
HKU Students: For the address of the course web forum, see or email the instructor or tutor.
Course Outcomes
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- Describe the major fields of philosophy and central concepts in philosophical method
- Describe central issues in ethical and political philosophy and major approaches to these issues from the Chinese and Western philosophical traditions
- Critically examine a range of positions on and approaches to these issues and identify their strengths and weaknesses
- Demonstrate interpretive, analytical, and argumentative skills in oral presentation and writing by discussing these issues and theories in written assignments and tutorials
- Demonstrate appreciation of the complexity of basic questions in ethical and political philosophy and their relation to individual and social life
Provisional Syllabus
1. Introduction: What is Philosophy? (weeks 1–2)
Reading: Lecture notes; Russell, “The Value of Philosophy”; selections from Plato and Mòzǐ; Handout 1, “How to Study Philosophy,” and Handout 2, “How to Read Philosophy” (all distributed on line)
2. Basic Philosophical Concepts and Methods (weeks 2–3)
Reading: Lecture notes
Assignment: Homework 1
3. Why Be Moral? (weeks 3–4)
Reading: Rachels, Right Thing, 20–28; selections from Plato, Xúnzǐ, Mòzǐ, Mencius, Mill, Nietszche, Dàodéjīng, Zhuāngzǐ
Tutorial 1 (discussion of Unit 3)
4. The Good Life (weeks 5–6)
Reading: Selections from Aristotle, Analects, Mencius, Epictetus, Kant, Mill, Zhuāngzǐ
Tutorial 2 (discussion of Unit 4)
Assignment: Homework 2
5. Right and Wrong (weeks 7–8)
Reading: Rachels, Right Thing, 1–20, and selections from Kant, Mill, Analects, Xúnzǐ, Mòzǐ, Zhuāngzi, Scanlon
Tutorial 3 (discussion of Unit 5)
Assignment: Homework 3
6. Political Authority (weeks 8–10)
Reading: Selections from Book of Documents, Analects, Mòzǐ, Mencius, Xúnzǐ, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Kant, Hume, Bentham, Hart, Bakunin, Wolff
Tutorial 4 (discussion of Unit 6)
Assignment: Homework 4
7. The Individual and the State (weeks 10–11)
Reading: Selections from Mòzǐ, Xúnzǐ, Hán Fēizǐ, Plato, Hegel, Mill, Marx, Dàodéjīng, Zhuāngzǐ, Berlin, Taylor
Tutorial 5 (discussion of Unit 7)
Assignment: Homework 5
8. Justice (weeks 11–12)
Reading: Selections from Mòzǐ, Xúnzǐ, Mencius, Aristotle, Hume, Marx, Rawls, Nozick
Tutorial 6 (discussion of Unit 8)
Final class meeting: In-class exam (Apr 21)
Coursework and Assessment
Five 500-word homework assignments (40%), participation in online discussion (10%), tutorial participation (six tutorials, 30%), one-hour in-class final exam (20%).
Readings
The course readings will include lecture notes and selections from primary sources. All readings will be posted on the course web page.
2012 Syllabus
For the detailed syllabus for PHIL1034 in the 2011-2012 academic year, contact the instructor or tutors.
