SemesterSpring Semester, 2025
DepartmentMA Program of Philosophy, First Year PhD Program of Philosophy, First Year MA Program of Philosophy, Second Year PhD Program of Philosophy, 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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