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Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: UCHUMPHI12
UCHUMPHI12
World Philosophies
Course info
Course codeUCHUMPHI12
EC7.5
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
  • summarize the thematic and historical development of non-Western philosophies, as well as the fundamentals of Western thought.
  • demonstrate their appreciation of and capacity for disciplined thought and clear argumentation regarding philosophical issues.
  • describe the main schools of philosophical thought and with specific attention paid to aspects of European, Indian, Islamic, Chinese and Japanese traditions.
  • read critically, analyze and discuss philosophical texts.
Content
Throughout human history, all societies have been confronted with questions about the world, themselves and others. These questions arise at various stages in the development of civilizations, but once asked, persist throughout time. In this respect, philosophy should never be seen as a uniquely Western discipline, despite the Western tendency to view it as such. As David Cooper writes in World Philosophies: An Historical Introduction, “The great preponderance of histories of philosophy, many passing themselves off as ‘general’, deal only with Western thought. A few Arabs are sometimes included but, so to speak, as honorary Westerners ... Exclusion of the Indian, Chinese and Japanese contributions to philosophy was [once] forgivable, perhaps, [but] today…such an exclusion ought to seem absurd.” (Cooper: 2002, 1). This course attempts to redress this imbalance. Once made aware of the issue of Eurocentrism in intellectual history early in their philosophical education, students then explore the richness of non-Western philosophical inquiry more fully.

Format
Students read the assigned chapter in Cooper, along with the relevant original texts, prior to each class meeting. They should be prepared to discuss questions raised by the teachers. Each meeting consists of an explanatory lecture that introduces the various themes and topics covered in the course. Students then have the opportunity to raise their own questions and learn from each other. Due to the multi-cultural nature of the course content, students also receive instruction on various methods for comparing and contrasting the philosophical themes under discussion. Assignments include the careful reading and study of the course material, the preparation of papers, and active participation in discussions.
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Kies de Nederlandse taal