SemesterSpring Semester, 2025
DepartmentMA Program of Chinese Literature, First Year PhD Program of Chinese Literature, First Year MA Program of Chinese Literature, Second Year PhD Program of Chinese Literature, Second Year
Course NameChinese Philosophy: Zhuangzi and Xunzi
InstructorWANG HUA
Credit3.0
Course TypeElective
Prerequisite
Course Objective
Course Description
Course Schedule

 



 






































































































week

Topics

Homework

1



2/20

Introduction 




  • Read Liu pp.1-25, 47-64

  • Post a considered question about the text

  • Also suggested (not required: Nagel: “religious temperament and secular philosophy”)



2



2/27

Intro to Chinese Philosophy, Confucius




  • Read Liu pp. 65-85, 108-130

  • Post two considered questions about the text

3



3/6

Mencius



and Mozi

  • Read Liu pp. 86-107, 152-181

  • Post two considered questions about the text



4



3/13

Zhuangzi



and Xunzi  



 

  • Read Yearley: “Hsün Tzu on the Mind: His Attempted Synthesis of Confucianism and Taoism”

  • Post two considered questions about the text

5



3/20

Zhuangzi



and Xunzi  



 

  • Read Stalnaker: “Aspects of Xunzi’s Engagement with Early Daoism”

  • Post two considered questions about the text

6



3/27

Guest Lecture:



Lisa Indraccolo




  • Reading to be assigned by the guest lecturer.

  • Post two considered questions about the lecture.

7



4/3

 



No class



 

  • Read Fraser: ch1

  • Post two considered questions about the text

  • Suggested reading: Fang 2009

8



4/10

Topic: the Way

  • Read Fraser: ch2

  • Post two considered questions about the text

  • Suggested reading: Cheng (manuscript)

9



4/17

Topic: the State

  • Read Fraser: ch3

  • Post two considered questions about the text

  • Suggested reading: Cheng (manuscript)

10



4/24

Topic: ethics



 

  • Read: Cheng (manuscript)

  • Post two considered questions about the text

11



5/1

Topic: epistemology I

  • Read Wang (manuscript)

  • Post two considered questions about the text

12



5/8

Topic: epistemology II

  • Read Wang (manuscript)

  • Post two considered questions about the text



13



5/15

Topic: practical agency I

  • Read Cheng (manuscript)

  • Post two considered questions about the text

14



5/22

Topic: practical agency II

  • Read Cheng (manuscript)

  • Post two considered questions about the text

15



5/29

Topic: transformation I

  • Read Wang (manuscript)

  • Post two considered questions about the text

16



6/5

Topic: transformation II

  • Prepare for presentations

17



6/12

Project presentations

 

18



6/19

Project presentations

 


 



 


Teaching Methods
Teaching Assistant
Requirement/Grading

Homework: 30%



Lead discussions and course participation: 20%



Final project and presentation: 50%


Textbook & Reference

 




  1. JeeLoo Liu, An introduction to Chinese philosophy: from ancient philosophy to Chinese Buddhism. Blackwell Publisher, 2006

  2. Fraser, Chris, Late Classical Chinese Thought. New York: Oxford University Press, 2023



Other supplementary reading materials:




  • Nagel, Thomas. Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperament: essays 2002-2008. New York: Oxford University Press, 2010, pp.3-18.

  • Yearley, Lee H. “Hsün Tzu on the Mind: His Attempted Synthesis of Confucianism and Taoism.” The Journal of Asian Studies, vol. 39, no. 3, 1980, pp. 465–80.

  • Stalnaker, Aaron. Aspects of Xunzi's engagement with early daoism. Philosophy East and West 53 (1):87-129. 2003.

  • Fang 2009: 方萬全，〈莊子論技與道〉，劉笑敢主編，《中國哲學與文化》第 6 輯，桂林：廣西師範大學出版社，2009，頁 259-286。

  • Wang: manuscript

  • Cheng: manuscript


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