GE1501 Chinese Civilisation - History and Philosophy

Student groups are free to choose their own themes for this course (subject to approval). Every student, of every group, must submit individual coursework that is relevant to their group’s theme. Below is a short list of suggested group themes for the tutorial.

• Group A: Yin and Yang (The Idea of Chinese Origin and Philosophy of Change) 
• Group B: Mandate of Heaven (The Dynastic Cycle—Rise and Fall; “Politics”, “Leadership”) 
• Group C: Chinese Spiritual Life (Divination, Sacrifice, Alchemy, Chinese Medicine and so on)  
• Group D: Chinese Freedom (of belief, election, speech and so on) 
• Group E: Chinese Family

Students are free to choose their own topics related to the philosopher of the week. 

• Group A: Confucius
  The meaning of ritual (li 禮) in Confucianism 
  The meaning of sacrifice and spirits in Confucianism: relation with the dead
  Confucianism and the notion of an exemplary person (junzi 君子)
  Relational self: Confucianism and the importance of relationships
  Personal identity. What is the role of individual in Confucian society? 
  Jesuits and the problem of “Westernised” Chinese philosophy
   
• Group B: Mozi
  Mozi and the order of the world based on rewards and punishments
  Mozi and the idea of universal love (impartial caring) jian ai 兼愛
  Mozi in comparison to Utilitarianism
  Mozi and moral psychology: what prevents us from donating more to charities?
   
• Group C: Mencius 
  Mencius on human nature
  Mencius and the concept of the four sprouts (siduan 四端)
  Mencius debate with Xunzi on human nature: is human nature good or bad?
  Mencius and moral psychology: what “a child falling into a well” tells us about human nature?
   
• Group D: Daodejing (Laozi)
  The concept of dao: order of the universe
  The paradox of wu-wei (無為)
  Laozi and the Philosophy of Flow (Spontaneity)
  Laozi: How should ideal society look like? 
   
• Group E: Zhuangzi
  Zhuangzi and the use of language
  Zhuangzi and the plurality of perspectives
  Zhuangzi and the story of a butterfly
  Zhuangzi’s perspective on death 

1. The concept of “learning” in Confucianism
2. Yin and Yang metaphysics in early Chinese philosophy   
3. Historical situation and development of philosophy in Pre-Qin China 
4. Dynastic cycle and alternative ways to look at Chinese history 
5. Bureaucracy and its role in the development of Chinese civilization 
6. Needham Puzzle – does it make sense and what are the ways to answer it?
7. The Concept of Change in Chinese culture 
8. Chinese aesthetics – what is beautiful and why?
9. Traditional Chinese family: what is special about it, how is it similar or different from the traditional family system in your country? 
10. A portrait of a great ruler. Compare Confucian, Daoist and Legalist perspectives.