ASSIGNMENTS: Submit 5 Journals and 1 Paper to TurnItIn Class ID: 26115098 Password: madness
@ 5 journals (75%), each 500 words: on any of the topics in the syllabus, and each journal should contain and discuss at least 5 quotes from the textbook(s).
- See below FAQ #1: What is a journal and what is required?
- Each journal, at least 500 words, should contain reflective and critical commentary: the required components are listed below at FAQ.
- Aim to submit your journal(s) on or close to: Sep 16, Sep 30, Oct 14, Oct 28, Nov 11, Nov 25, and/or Dec 9, 2020.
- I will be grading and commenting on any new submissions shortly after Sep 16, Sep 30, Oct 14, Oct 28, Nov 11, Nov 25, and/or Dec 9, 2020.
- You can expect to receive the feedback and grade on each journal in 2 weeks after submitting it.
- The feedback and grade will be posted directly on each submission uploaded from your TurnItIn account: look for the comments and number there.
- There are five folders, Journal 1, Journal 2 ... in TurnItIn: simply submit each of your journals, accordingly. Just fill all five folders by Dec 9, 2020.
- You will not be penalized for letting go any earlier dates. The earlier you submit, the earlier you get your grade, that's all.
@ one 3,000 word paper (25%): on any topic(s) in the syllabus, an expansion on any of your 5 journals, single or combined: due on Dec 9, 2020, the last day of class.
- See below FAQ #3: What is required in a final paper?
- Your paper, structurally the same as the journal, should be an expanded and detailed version of your journal(s), and so again, all the main quotes should come from the textbook(s) and materials listed in the syllabus. Delve into a topic or a combination of topics you have already analyzed in your journal(s) and make sure to cite exactly and specifically from the textbook(s) and analyze, integrate and expand them as your main study material - that is required, and so without such, you will not be able to earn a passing grade. Aim for a total of about 15-20 direct quotes from the textbooks and listed materials for this paper.
- As a supplement but not a substitute, after you cover the basics as required, you can certainly refer to any outside sources if they meaningfully contribute to the development of your core argument, and any such additions will result in some additional points earned too. Yet, the number of external quotes should be limited to 10. You will not be penalized for not using any external sources. Again, what really matters, your priority, is your closely studied reflection on the textbook(s).
- If you end up wanting to write on a topic that you have not yet covered in any of your 5 journals but is still evidently in the textbook too, you are allowed to write on that as long as the evidence is literally there with all your specific references to the chapters/passages/parts in the textbook(s).
On the 100 point scale, each journal counts up to 15 points (15 x 5 =75 points) and the remaining 25 points are for the final paper.
Cycles/Deadlines for Fall 2020: Sep 16, Sep 30, Oct 14, Oct 28, Nov 11, Nov 25, Dec 9 (journals & draft paper & revisions, soft) + Dec 9 (final paper & all, FIRM)
If you have any alternative suggestions on your assignment plan, email me with a request and explain why you need or want a different approach.
NOTES on the general method and evaluation criteria
1. Writing-focused: read the textbook(s) at your own pace and focus on producing, ultimately, your final paper at the end.
2. Feedback on your submission will be the main portal of communication between you and the instructor in this class.
3. Upon request, a further individual guidance will be available through an occasional online meeting or ad hoc workshop: email me with a request.
4. Blackboard group discussions will function as a classroom discussion throughout the course; active use of it, while not required, is recommended.
5. You are encouraged to review supplementary materials linked below or on the course Blackboard.
6. You are also encouraged to utilize and quote from any materials you found online as long as they are reasonably reputable sources and you reference them clearly.
7. You are expected to work towards producing a "portfolio" of your own ideas and learning, given the wealth of information and specific prompts provided here.
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Course Description
A course on classical Chinese philosophy. Following this tradition of textual commentary, itself cultivated as an art form, we will analyze six early Chinese philosophers from the “Spring and Autumn” (770-476 B.C.) and “Warring State” (475-221 B.C.) periods, the turbulent last two periods of Zhou Dynasty that demanded and produced great thinkers in action: Sun Tzu, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Confucius, Mencius and Hsün Tzu.
Course Objectives
The flowering of thoughts during this era, comparable to the origination of ideas in ancient Greece, led to the institution of a comprehensive range of philosophical systems encompassing ethics, aesthetics, epistemology and metaphysics, all shaped broadly into the Taoist tradition on the one hand, and the Confucian on the other. With this in mind, we will examine both the original insights and contextual contributions of some of the key thinkers from those twofold traditions: you are expected to apply, intelligently and creatively, philosophical ideas you learn from this class to your own context.
Required Texts
- re Kongzi/Confucius Henry Jr. Rosemont and Roger Ames (trans). The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. New York: Ballantine Books. 1999.
- re Laozi Roger Ames and David Hall (trans). Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation. New York: Ballantine Books. 2003.
- re Sunzi Roger Ames (trans). Sun-Tzu: The Art of Warfare. New York: Ballantine Books. 1993.
- re Zhuangzi, Xunzi and Mengzi/Mencius Philip J. Ivanhoe and Bryan Van Norden (eds). Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Washington DC: Seven Bridges Press. 2000.
Recommended/Further Readings
- Watson Burton (trans). Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings. New York: Columbia University Press. 1996.
- Watson Burton (trans). Hsün Tzu: Basic Writings. New York: Columbia University Press. 1963.
- D.C. Lau (trans). Mencius. New York: Penguin Books. 1970.
- Joel Kupperman. Classic Asian Philosophy: A Guide to the Essential Texts. Oxford: OUP. 2001.
- Michael Nylan. The Five "Confucian" Classics. New Haven: Yale University Press. 2001.
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Contents
Keywords/points/concepts/sample journal questions
for your
studied reflection and considered response in writing
General References Resources
Zhongwen (Dictionary)
Chinese History: Timeline
ChinaKnowledge (Encyclopedia)
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: any entries on "Chinese philosophy"
Topic 1: General Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy | notes re canon/genealogy re trait eg emotional
1. What are some of the general characteristics of classical Chinese philosophy? Name and describe at least five strands and discuss their significance.
2. What are some of the distinguishing marks of classical Chinese philosophy, different from "Western" philosophy? And what are your own comparative interests?
3. Explain, roughly, a few foundational concepts in classical Chinese philosophy including Ren 仁, Dao 道 and Qi 气; discuss a couple of more of your own choosing.
4. Why do you think we need to study classical Chinese philosophy, whoever "we" are here and now? Think about your own personal reflection/motivation, too.
5. What are some contemporary examples or phenomena, as you see, that show the lasting relevance and evolution of classical Chinese philosophy?
Supplementary
Introducing Eastern Philosophy
1. The Art (or Law) of War shows both a set of military strategies and political philosophy. Choose at least five key concepts from the book to illustrate such deeper links.
2. Is war ever justfiable? Or could there be an "ethics of war"? Is there, as political philosophers call it, a "just war"? Look for some clues/arguments on this in the book.
3. There is an intimate evolving connection between the Fa (law) 法 and Dao (way) 道 the key concept in Laozi's Daodejing: show such connections in the two books.
4. Start with one concept you find most interesting and show at least four different, relevant concepts, while illustrating this connection through a real life story.
5. (How) is this book helpful today? In your own and or broader social/everyday/political/community context. Try and draw some creative and practical insights.
Supplementary
Introducing the Art of War
Suntzu Said
Sunzi: The Art of War (Overview)
Code of the Street (for a more contemporary and comparatively applied reflection)
Topic 3: Laozi's 道德经 Daodejing | notes re 道 and 德
1. "Dao you can talk about is not a constant dao": this book on Dao 道 opens with such a paradox or irony. Explain at least five characteristics of Dao and why they matter.
2. Why, in your view, is this book dealing with both Dao AND De 德? Explain these two concepts in connection by also relating to some real life examples.
3. The art of Wuwei 無為 is everywhere, ranging from martial arts and meditative idling. Explain and evaluate this concept while analyzing each character closely.
4. Start with one concept you find most interesting and show at least four different, relevant concepts, while illustrating this connection through a real life story or two.
5. (How) is this book helpful today? In your own and or broader social/everyday/political/community context. Try and draw some creative and practical insights.
Supplementary
Introducing Laozi/Daodejing
Topic 4: Zhuangzi 庄子 (內篇) Inner Chapters | notes re Butterfly (re)Dreaming
1. Zhuangzi develops Laozi's Daoism - in what way? Compare these two figures/books and evaluate the significance of daoist philosophy and outlook in life.
2. Zhuangzi's "butterfly dream" in chapter 2 is one of the most famous allegories from this book. How does it compare to modern skepticism in "Western" philosophy?
3. Zhuangzi as an imaginative storyteller and poetic writer illustrates how philosophy is often fused with poetry in classical Chinese intellectual tradition. Explore this.
4. Start with one concept you find most interesting and show at least four different, relevant concepts, while illustrating this connection through a real life story or two.
5. (How) is this book helpful today? In your own and or broader social/everyday/political/community context. Try and draw some creative and practical insights.
Supplementary
Introducing Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi's Butterfly Dream
Topic 5: Kongzi (Confucius)'s 论语 The Analects| notes re the father who stole a sheep and the son who ...
1. What are the key ideas of Confucianism? Provide a concise summary in your own words, by using at least five different concepts in Confucianism.
2. Confucius is often compared to Plato (and Aristotle) both in his towering influence and orientation in thinking. How do they differ and also converge?
3. Rituals and "appropriate" thoughtfulness are particularly important in Confucianism. Why? And can you find any very contemporary relevance of this idea?
4. Start with one concept you find most interesting and show at least four different, relevant concepts, while illustrating this connection through a real life story or two.
5. (How) is this book helpful today? In your own and or broader social/everyday/political/community context. Try and draw some creative and practical insights.
Supplementary
Introducing Confucius
Confucius: A Biographical Sketch
Topic 6: Mengzi 孟子 (Mencius) | notes re Sprouts/(Moral) Cultivation
1. Mengzi deepens and develops Kongzi's foundational ideas - how? Explain this evolution by discussing at least five concepts as introduced or extended in his book.
2. Mengzi believes in the fundamental goodness of human nature. How does he ground, cultivate and justify this idea? And what relevance does it have today?
3. Discuss and evaluate the "family" metaphors or analogies that shape Mengzi's philosophy of care and harmony. Is this interesting/significant, politically or otherwise?
4. Start with one concept you find most interesting and show at least four different, relevant concepts, while illustrating this connection through a real life story or two.
5. (How) is this book helpful today? In your own and or broader social/everyday/political/community context. Try and draw some creative and practical insights.
Supplementary
Introducing Mengzi
Topic 6: Xunzi 荀子
1. Xunzi, critically and creatively, combines Daoism and Confucianism in his rather realist approach to life. Explain this by discussing some further points in his text.
2. Xunzi, unlike Mengzi, does not believe in the fundamental goodness of human nature. Compare and contrast and evaluate Xunzi and Mengzi's view on (human) evil.
3. Evaluate pros and cons of capitalism from the perspective of Xunzi's ethics and social political philosophy.
4. Start with one concept you find most interesting and show at least four different, relevant concepts, while illustrating this connection through a real life story or two.
5. (How) is this book helpful today? In your own and or broader social/everyday/political/community context. Try and draw some creative and practical insights.
Supplementary
Introducing Xunzi
Topic 7: Concluding Reflection on Classical Chinese Philosophy
What is your question? Try to start formulating your key research question with a view to writing a paper for the course.
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FAQ
1. What Counts as a Journal?
Study the textbook(s) carefully, especially the part/page/chapter of your choice, and write a well-condensed and composed entry containing all three elements:
@ a succinct summary of the reading material or section of your choice
@ a critical response to or close analysis of any crucial passage(s) which should also be clearly cited, and
@ a conclusive elaboration of the significance of the topic and the passage(s) under discussion.
Here are some samples: journals on"The Personal is Theoretical?"; Theoretical is Scientific?; "Naming Oppression and Position"
These examples are quite extensive, and just aim for a shorter version of the comparable level of analytic and critical reading.
Some writing tips:
- Try and "budget" words around each quote you intend to discuss and connect. You could start mechanically with around 70-80 words per paragraph.
- In this class, well-incorporated and thoughtful reflections on real life episodes as examples are more than welcome. In fact, they would be very interesting.
- Make sure you aim for quality, not quantity, and logical and engaging links among ideas, not just a series of fragmented thoughts merely bundled together.
1.1 What citational style should I use for the journals?
Any standard academic style such as APA/Chicago/MLA
1.2 Where do I submit a journal and how is it graded?
Each journal should be submitted to Turnitin and will be graded and returned with comments within 2 weeks of submission.
1.3 Can I write multiple journals on a single figure?
Yes. For instance, you can certainly write all of your five journals on one word or even a paragraph. What matters is the quality of your studied reflection and writing.
1.4 Can I write more than five journals?
No. Redirect your surplus energy to paper writing, your final paper.
1.5 Can I rewrite my journals and resubmit them for better grades?
OK. Up to 2 journals post-feedback. If your revision is evidently better, your final grade will be higher. I have created 2 additional folders for your optional revision.
1.6 Can I just write down my own thoughts? Or does a journal have to be about what the textbook/an author says?
To clarify again, journaling here does not mean recording your own free-flowing thoughts in a loose rambling manner. It is not just to "write down my own thoughts, personal opinions or feelings." However, it does not mean, either, simply to summarize what the author/chapter/section of your choice said, although that is indeed very first step. What is required is a systematic combination of both what you have learned from the textbook and what you think about it in turn/response.
Journal writing in the academic context means the following, also as laid out above in a sequence: studying the textbook closely and comprehensively, and citing specific passages to a) explain and contextualize its core meaning further, b) argue for or against it or any specific parts of it through your own reasoning process with a view to 3) drawing a conclusion while showing why that analysis matters at all from a broader and wider perspective. Try to cover all those elements in sequence. So try to explain in the most specific, clearest and most precise terms what exactly you have understood, what exactly you find most illuminating, what exactly you find most agreeable or objectionable, etc., with a view to composing all that into a well-structured mini-essay. That is a journal.
Involved here is a fairly intensive intellectual exercise where you do have to "sweat" to try to get to the bottom of things. Each journal, when composed well, solidly, would become a mini-foundation or stepping stone for your future work.
2. What Are the Grading Criteria?
Grading Scale
97- A+93- A90- A-87- B+83- B80- B-77- C+73- C70- C-67- D+63- D60- D-Below 60 F (Fail)On the 100 point scale, each journal counts up to 15 points (15 x 5 =75 points) and the remaining 25 points are for the final paper.
- Those regularly and actively participating in the blackboard discussion could earn an extra credit up to 10, but no one will be losing points for not participating.
- Grades are non-negotiable unless there is a clerical error.
Grade A: Mastery of the issues and literature, and an ability to make some original contribution. Grade B: Good grasp of issues and literature, but little or no attempt at own contribution. Grade C: Some but uncertain grasp of the issues. Grade D: Failure to grasp issues but some attempt made. Grade F: Not even trying. 3. What are the Basic Requirements for the Final Paper?
- Topic: any figure(s)/chapter(s)/topic(s) of your choice from the textbook(s): if you have any other specific suggestions, discuss them with me first for approval.
- Primary Source: textbooks ("required texts") and links on this syllabus page: you are required to study and cite from the primary materials.
- Outside Sources: print or internet-based, in any combination, supplementary (not required), limited to 10; any reference, a url, a chapter, or a book, counts as 1.
- You will not be penalized for not using any external sources of your choice but will be penalized for not using the required primary source.
- If your additional, supplementary sources contribute meaningfully to your overall argument, you will earn some additional points, accordingly.
- Bibliographic Format: any standard academic style such as APA/Chicago/MLA
- See Grading Rubric And Refer to John Jay Writing Center Referral Form.
- The deadline: the last day of class: firm
- Strongly Recommendable Reference: They Say/I Say: Moves That Matter in Academic Writing with Readings
3.1 So basically, the final paper is an expanded version of a journal?
Yes, structurally, the set of requirements for the final paper is the same as that for a journal. You go deeper and further in your analysis of the set of topic(s) of your choice, and your paper should have one overriding topic around which every sub-topic is organized and systematically connected.
3.2 Can I incorporate my own journals into my final paper by literally reusing some passages?
Yes. Your paper could certainly expand on some of the key points in your own journals also by importing some sections, as long as your paper as a whole makes sense.
3.3 Do I have to cite from "outside sources"?
No. You do not have to study anything else than the course material, i.e., the primary source (=the textbook and the materials shown on the class website). Studying the course material and show the full evidence of it should be your primary activity if you wish to pass this course. A final paper that does not directly engage the course material will earn a zero grade: you will not be earning that 25% set aside for the final paper. To confirm: the focus of my evaluation would be on your understanding of and analytic engagement with the course material. Make sure to cover that first. After doing that, on the secondary level, you can certainly incorporate your own findings into your final paper, if that enriches or reinforces your argument, but in any case, as specified above, the outside sources should be no more than 10. Meaningfully well-incorporated outside sources will be recognized and rewarded in the grade for the paper.
3.4 Can I submit a draft paper for a quick comment and preliminary grade before submitting the final version?
Yes. I have created an optional "draft submission" folder in Turnitin for that purpose. The deadline for this is two weeks before the final paper deadline and I will do my best to return the feedback at least a few days before the final deadline.
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Statement of College Policy on Plagiarism
"Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else‘s ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical work as one‘s own creation. Using the ideas or work of another is permissible only when the original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism. It is the student‘s responsibility to recognize the difference between statements that are common knowledge (which do not require documentation) and restatements of the ideas of others. Paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation are acceptable forms of restatement, as long as the source is cited. Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with their instructors. The Library has free guides designed to help students with problems of documentation." (From the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Undergraduate Bulletin, p. 36)
Should plagiarism be determined, a formal disciplinary action will be taken immediately: the student in question will receive an F grade for the course.Accommodation of Religious Observances
Upon request, academic accommodations for a religious observance are available on an individual basis; by the end of the second week, please provide me with a supplementary document that specifies and verifies your context and needs for modification.
Accommodation of Documented Disabilities
Please contact me within the first two weeks of the semester. An appropriate, case-by-case arrangement will be made to ensure that the student in question is given an equal opportunity for learning.
PHI 351. Classical Chinese Philosophy
Prof. Kyoo Lee, 524 West 59th St. Rm 8.63.15, Dept. of Philosophy, John Jay College, CUNY
Office Hours: By Appointment
