Core 285: Eastern Philosophy

Spring 2019
INSTRUCTOR: WILLIAM IRWIN, Ph.D. EXT. 5493. williamirwin@kings.edu

Webpage: http://staff.kings.edu/wtirwin/index.htm

OFFICE HOURS: HAFEY-MARIAN 509 M&W 1:00-4:00, Tu&Th 3:20-4:50, and by appointment.

Prerequisite: Core 280 or Honors 280. Students who have not taken, or are not currently enrolled in, Core 280 or Honors 280 will not be allowed to take this course without permission from the instructor.

Course Description: This course will be a topical survey of Eastern philosophy. The philosophical topics we shall directly address include ethics, death, reality, self, and knowledge. The schools of Eastern philosophy we shall study include Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Core 285 fulfills the requirement for a second course in philosophy.

Objectives: In studying Eastern philosophy students will be exposed to, and learn appreciation for, different perspectives on traditional philosophical issues. Students will also develop a deeper appreciation for Western perspectives through the method of comparison. Students will develop and refine the ability to offer criticism of philosophical positions, and they will develop the ability to form their own educated positions on philosophical issues.

Disabilities Policy: Special accommodations will be made for students who have a bona-fide disability that impacts their ability to learn the course material. Students with certifiable disabilities should privately inform the instructor so that appropriate arrangements can be made in consultation with the Academic Skills Center.

Required Texts:

The Pulse of Wisdom: The Philosophies of India, China, and Japan, Michael C. Brannigan

Siddhartha, Hermann Hesse

The Tao of Pooh, Benjamin Hoff

The Art of Communicating, Thich Nhat Hanh

The Tao te Ching (handout)

The Bhagavad-Gita (handout)

Grades will be calculated as follows:

Attendance 5% (more than 4 absences will result in no credit)

Participation 15% (you are expected to speak at least once in every class meeting)

First Term paper 10%

Second Term paper 10%

Midterm Exam 30%

Final Exam 30%

FIRST TERM PAPER

Critical evaluation of (your choice): a.) ethics, b.) death, c.) reality, d.) self, or e.) knowledge in (your choice): 1.) Siddhartha or 2.) The Tao of Pooh. Papers should be 3-5 pages in length. Due February 12. Please submit both a hard copy and an electronic copy as an e-mail attachment in Word.

SECOND TERM PAPER

Reflection on The Art of Communicating by Thich Nhat Hanh. Your assignment is to try one of the practices that the author recommends for one week and then write about your experience. What worked and what did not? Track your progress. Did you practice consistently? Be honest. What difficulties did you have? Give specific examples of what you did. Conclude with thoughts on whether you will continue the practice—why or why not? Papers should be at least 2 pages in length. Due February 21. Please submit both a hard copy and an electronic copy as an e-mail attachment in Word. By February 11 tell me via e-mail what practice you will be considering in your paper.

Exams

Midterm and Final exams. Essay questions will be given 2 classes in advance of the exam. Essays will ask for exposition of a school of thought on a topic, your criticism of the views of that school, and your argument for your position on the topic in question. The final exam is not cumulative.

Reading (unspecified readings are from The Pulse of Wisdom):

INTRODUCTION

1. Siddhartha, Part I, pp. 3-42.
2. Siddhartha, Part II, pp. 43-85.
3. Siddhartha, Part III, pp. 87-152.
4. The Tao of Pooh, pp. 1-90.
5. The Tao of Pooh, pp. 91-158.

REFLECTION ON COMMUNICATION

1. The Art of Communicating, pp. 3-68.

2. The Art of Communicating, pp. 71-166.

ETHICS

1.Hindu Ethics, 1-4; 249-257; 287; The Bhagavad-Gita (handout).
2. Buddhist Ethics, 14-17; 20-23; 257-262; 288-297.
3. Confucian Ethics, 23-27; 262-265.

4.Taoist Ethics 27-29; 37-40; 265-266; 270-271; 273-275.

DEATH

1. Hindu Perspectives on Death, 321-327.
2. Buddhist Perspectives on Death, 328-333; 356-361.
3. Confucian and Taoist Perspectives on Death, 333-344.

MIDTERM EXAM

REALITY

1. Hindu Perspectives on Reality, 57-63; 95.
2. Buddhist Perspectives on Reality, 65-70.
3. Confucian and Taoist Perspectives on Reality, 70-73; 74 (Yin-Yang); 102-104.

4. The Tao te Ching (handout)

SELF

1. Hindu Perspectives on the Self, 129-134 (No Advaita Vedanta);154-156.
2. Buddhist Perspectives on the Self, 135-137; 168-171.
3. Confucian and Taoist Perspectives on the Self, 140-142; 145 (skip Shushi)-147.

KNOWLEDGE

1. Hindu Perspectives on Knowledge, 189-197; 221.
2. Buddhist Perspectives on Knowledge, 198; 199 (Mayhyana)-200(Yogacara); 202 (esoteric Buddhism)-204.
3. Confucian and Taoist Perspectives on Knowledge, 204-207; 208-209 (Ch'an Buddhism only); 211-212; 234-236; 242-244.

FINAL EXAM

HOW TO DO WELL IN THIS CLASS

Read the assigned readings before coming to class. To the best of your ability, write answers to the reading questions that go along with the assigned pages.
Take notes. There will be no PowerPoints or handouts.
Review your notes from the previous class meeting before coming to each class.
Ask and answer questions in class to check your understanding and to clarify what you don’t understand. The class is a community—be a part of it.
Take quizzes seriously but don’t stress over them.
Keep up with each class meeting so that studying for exams is no big deal.
Use exam review sessions wisely. Review your notes prior to the session and come with questions.
Get started early on your term paper.
Follow the term paper instructions carefully.
Go to the Writing Center if you have problems with organizing your paper and writing clearly.
Have at least one person in your class read your term paper. Does it make sense to him or her?
See the professor to discuss your term paper ideas. If you write the paper early, see the professor with a rough draft. But be prepared to do some work in revising it. Don’t expect the professor to fix everything that is wrong with your rough draft. You can’t bring a broken-down Chevy to a mechanic and expect a brand-new Porsche when you return.
Read your paper out loud before turning it in. How does it sound?

A MODEST PROPOSAL FOR STUDENTS*

IN THE CLASSROOM

1. Come on time. You disturb the professor, the students, and the flow of the class when you walk in late.

2. Come to class prepared. Do the assigned reading.

3. Enthusiasm is contagious. Profs respond and teach better to an alert, attentive, and interested class in just the way a performer puts on a better show for an enthusiastic crowd.

4. Be involved in class. Participate in class discussions and ask questions. If you do not have a lot to say, then show that you are interested and engaged by making eye contact with the professor. You would find it pretty boring if the prof never made eye contact with the class. In the same way, the prof will find you pretty boring, and assume you are not interested, if you never look up.

5. The “too cool for school” posture is unacceptable and offensive. Never slouch, chat, glare at the clock, or yawn. The professor is not your adversary. Work with him, not against him. You would not appreciate such posture or attitude if you were speaking at the front of the class. Think about it.

6. Respect your classmates, and learn their names for class discussions. Never refer to “the fat guy in the Nike hat.” It’s not nice.

7. When a fellow student speaks it is not an opportunity to “tune out,” take a break, or start a conversation. Respecting your classmates includes listening to their questions and comments.

8. During class, never study for another exam or do work for another class. If you’re too busy to be in class, then don’t come. But, by the way, you’re never that busy.

9. Never close your books or rustle your papers to signal the end of class. This is like looking at your phone when someone is talking to you—pretty rude. The prof knows what time it is, and he will let you know when the class is over.

10. Try not to look at the time during class. Time flies when you’re not thinking about it.

11. Do not walk out of class unless it is truly necessary. Do not walk out of class during an exam without asking permission, and do not even think of taking your phone to the bathroom during an exam.

12. Do not look at your phone during class, and do not send text messages during class. It’s rude. Pay attention. If your phone rings, you will be instructed to put it on vibrate and shove it up your @$$.

13. Listen as if the professor were speaking to you alone. Don’t divide the responsibility for understanding among all the students in the class. Ultimately you alone are responsible for your understanding of the material.

OFFICE HOURS, ETC.

1. Make use of office hours, and don’t hesitate to make an appointment if the designated times conflict with your schedule. If you make an appointment, keep it. No one likes to be stood up.

2. Keep in mind that profs do not just “kill time” in their offices between classes. Profs put a great deal of time into preparing for class, and they also pursue an active scholarly research agenda. Profs are there for students first and foremost, but respect their time and interests.

3. When addressing the instructor don’t just start talking. Whether by e-mail, phone, or in person, call your prof by name: Dr. Doolittle, Professor Plum, Mr. Clean, Ms. Demeanor, Ms. Information, whatever.

4. Don’t wait until it’s “too late” to seek help. If you’re having trouble let the prof know, and show that you are concerned.

5. Come to office hours with particular questions, concerns, or problems in mind. Don’t wait until you arrive to think about what you need help with.

6. Never ask “Did I miss anything important in class the other day?” Of course you did.

7. Don’t ask for extra credit. This is not your seventh-grade science class; you cannot earn extra credit by making a volcano for the science fair. Just work extra hard on the remaining assignments.

8. When leaving voice mail for your prof, make it brief and to the point—no long excuse stories or graphic details about projectile vomiting and other maladies. Better yet, just e-mail me!

9. Unless the prof instructs you otherwise, do not call to tell him/her that you will be missing class. You are an adult. If you were not in class, the prof assumes you had a good reason.

10. Bad planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on the prof’s part. Laziness is not a learning disability; procrastination is not a sport.

PAPERS AND EXAMS

1. Hand in papers on time, and do not ask for extensions, except under the most extraordinary circumstances.

2. Do not miss scheduled exams or quizzes except under the most extraordinary circumstances. Do not expect a makeup or any special accommodations if you do miss.

3. Cheating on exams and quizzes is frowned upon ☹. Do not check your phone during an exam.

4. Don’t answer exam and quiz questions like you would in responding to a text message. Instead, answer in full sentences developed into coherent paragraphs.

5. Philosophy is about giving arguments to support or defend your position. This also involves criticizing the beliefs and positions of others—it is not impolite to do so.

6. Some terms and definitions. KNOWLEDGE is traditionally defined as true, justified belief. There is no such thing as “false knowledge.” For a belief to be JUSTIFIED there must be strong reason or evidence for it. If a belief is not justified in this sense it is just an OPINION. A belief is TRUE if it corresponds to the way things really are. Truth is objective, not subjective. There is no such thing as “true to me.” There is truth, and that is all. People may believe different things to be true, but that doesn’t mean different things are true.

7. Bad words and phrases in Philosophy term papers include, but are not limited to: “personally,” “to me,” “for me,” and “feel.”

8. Good words and phrases in Philosophy term papers include, but are not limited to: “My position is,” “My argument is,” “My criticism of the opposing side is,” “I believe,” and “I think.” In writing, vary your sentence structure. For example, do not begin several sentences in a row “He says …” Avoid phrases like “goes on to say.”

9. Warning: Do not plagiarize in any way. Plagiarism is obvious. If you were smart enough to plagiarize and get away with it, you would not need to plagiarize in the first place! The instructor has electronic copies of all term papers submitted in previous semesters.

10. This is NOT KINDERGARTEN. Special plastic covers and red ribbons on term papers are not necessary, and indeed are not appreciated. No cover pages, title pages, or other excess baggage. Thank you.

11. Staple your term paper once in the upper left corner. Never ask the prof for a stapler—he is not your secretary or supply store.

12. Use a title for your paper different from the name of the book you are examining.

13. Titles of movies, TV shows, and books should be in italics. Titles of articles should be enclosed in quotation marks.

14. If the term paper calls for sections, label the sections so that it is completely clear what parts of your paper correspond to the parts of the paper specified in the handout/outline.

15. Include a Works Cited section if you cite from any book (including the one assigned), article, website, etc.

16. Do not ask if your paper is graded the day after you handed it in. You had a reasonable amount of time to write it, now give the prof a reasonable amount of time to grade it.

17. Contrary to popular opinion, grading is not easy and profs do not take sadistic pleasure in it. It is the worst part of the job, and profs strive to be as fair as possible.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PROF

1. Do expect courtesy, concern, interest, and promptness.

2. Do not expect special treatment or accommodations without justification.

Why Major or Minor in Philosophy?

The best reason to major in philosophy is that you find the subject interesting and exciting. Philosophy IS the road less traveled, and it can make all the difference.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A PHILOSOPHY DEGREE?

ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!

Is Philosophy practical?

YES! And it is an ideal major for smart, motivated people who have a vision of what they want to do in life. The philosophy major provides a true education, rather than mere training. Most on-campus interviewers are interested in interviewing “all majors.” This is because most employers seek smart people who are able to think critically and respond positively to changes and problems. More so than perhaps any other major, philosophy teaches skills and abilities that are practical and applicable to any career. These never go out of style:

The ability to think logically.
The ability to analyze and solve problems.
The ability to assess the pros and cons of proposed solutions.
The ability to write and speak clearly.
The ability to persuade.
The ability to conduct thorough research.
The ability to ask the right questions.
The ability to think creatively and imaginatively.

What careers do philosophy majors pursue?

Most majors offer only a few career possibilities, but with a philosophy major the possibilities are endless. The list of careers and career areas typically pursued by philosophy majors includes, but is not limited to: law, medicine, education, F.B.I., government, publishing, writing, research, consulting, social and community services, business, and computer programming.

How do philosophy majors score on standardized tests?

In short, philosophy majors score among the very best.

If you want to go to Law School, you should know that nationally the mean score on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) for philosophy majors is higher than that for both political science and pre-law majors. Of all college majors, philosophy majors have the highest rate of law school admissions.
If you want to go to graduate school in any field, you should know that nationally philosophy majors go on to advanced degrees in philosophy as well as nearly every other area of study. On the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) philosophy majors have the highest mean verbal score of all majors, the second highest mean analytic score of all majors, and the highest mean quantitative score of all humanities and social science majors.
If you want to pursue an MBA, you should know that nationally philosophy majors have a higher mean GMAT score than business majors.
If you want to pursue a career in medicine, you should know that many medical schools look very favorably on a philosophy major as long as the requisite science courses are taken as well. Philosophy majors actually have a significantly higher medical school acceptance rate than biology or chemistry majors.

What if I’m interested in philosophy but I want to major in something else?

You should know that philosophy works very well as a double major or minor with any other area of study. The study of philosophy can provide you with highly valuable insight into the nature of literature and the humanities, psychology and the social sciences, chemistry and the natural sciences, and economics and business. You can earn a minor in philosophy by taking just four courses beyond the Core requirements.

I’ve never heard of anyone majoring in philosophy.

Yes, you have! Here are just a few of the philosophy majors you may certainly have heard of:

Business: Larry Sanger (co-founder of Wikipedia), Reid Hoffman (co-founder of Linkedin), Peter Thiel (founder of PayPal), Stewart Butterfield (co-founder of Flickr), Patrick Byrne (founder of Overstock.com), John Mackey (co-founder and co-CEO of Whole Foods Market), J. Paul Getty, Carl Icahn (CEO, TWA Airlines), Gerald Levin (former CEO, Time Warner, Inc.), George Soros (financier), Lachlan Murdoch (son of Rupert Murdoch, media magnate), Max Palevsky (co-founder of Intel), Carly Fiorina (former CEO Hewlett-Packard and presidential candidate), Robert Greenhill (President of Morgan Stanley).

Government, Politics, and Law: Thomas Jefferson, David Souter and Stephen Breyer (Supreme Court Justices), Sheila Bair (Chair of FDIC), William Bennett (Secretary of Education and best-selling author), Stokely Carmichael (civil rights activist), Patrick Buchanan (presidential candidate and political columnist), Jerry Brown (governor of California and presidential candidate), Raisa Gorbachev (former first lady of the Soviet Union), Fred Thompson (former Senator and presidential candidate).

Religion: Pope John Paul II, Martin Luther King, Jr., Madelyn Murray O’Hair (famous atheist).

Contemporary Writers: T. S. Eliot, Christopher Hitchens, Mary Higgins Clark, James Michener, Iris Murdoch, Alexander Solzhenitsin, Umberto Eco, M. Scott Peck, Ken Follett, Susan Sontag, Sam Harris, David Foster Wallace, Ayn Rand, Elie Wiesel, Nic Pizzolatto, Yann Martel, J.D. Vance.

Performers and Broadcasters: Juan Williams, Kennedy (MTV VJ and political commentator), Katy Tur, Harrison Ford, Susan Sarandon, Lana Del Rey, Dessa, Woody Allen, Richard Gere, Steve Martin, George Carlin, Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Kim Thayill (Soundgarden), Stone Phillips, John Chancellor, Alex Trebek, Gene Siskel, Willard Scott, Jimmy Kimmel, Ricky Gervais (creator of The Office), Wes Anderson, Ethan Coen.

Sports: Bruce Lee, Phil Jackson, Michael McKaskey (Owner, Chicago Bears), Arian Foster (Houston Texans), Aaron Talylor (OT, Notre Dame and the Green Bay Packers).

Words of Wisdom from King’s Alumni

The Philosophy Major is one of the best- kept secrets at King’s. Here’s what some of our recent graduates have to say.

"I pushed off taking a philosophy class as long as I could. As a science major, I liked my answers black and white. I liked numbers, formulas, and certainty, not spending the day pondering questions with no answers. If there is one thing I’m certain of now, it’s that I should have taken a philosophy class sooner! Unlike other majors, philosophy is personal, raw, and deeply meaningful. It teaches you a lot about the world and human kind, but most importantly, it teaches you about yourself. I can confidently say that my philosophy minor changed my life and was one of my most valuable assets, which helped me gain acceptance into medical school." Eve Kary ‘18

“Picking up the Philosophy Major was by far the best decision I ever made during my time at King’s. The interaction with both the students and professors alike has been a crucial part in helping me find out exactly who I am. The knowledge, critical thinking, and ability to discern the truth that the Philosophy Major has provided me is something that not only allows me to advance and succeed within my career as an accountant, but also within all aspects of my life.” Frank Mrozowski ‘18

“Philosophy taught me to be a better critical thinker and it made me more confident in myself and my arguments. In addition, coupling the philosophy major with a STEM major (biology) allowed me to simultaneously develop as both a scientist and a moral agent. Thanks to the philosophy major I have a leg up on other STEM majors in applying to medical School.” Krystal Szerszen ‘17

“It is often said that King’s teaches students how to live. The major that does that best is Philosophy. Each course has prepared me for the world outside of college. Overall, Philosophy has made me a better and more well-rounded individual because the discipline teaches you how to be a good person. Every day, I apply critical thinking and in-depth analysis in the behavioral health field. Simply put, Philosophy has enabled me to help others.” Marcus Sypeck ‘16

"I came into King’s as a French and International Business double major. During my freshman year I fell in love with Philosophy and became a double major in French and Philosophy. Writing a term paper on the meaning of life actually changed the meaning of my own life. Not only did I learn how to think critically and formulate arguments, but my perception of the world changed. With the transferrable skills from a Philosophy major or minor, a student can conquer the world." Susan P. Addoms '15

“I wanted to go to law school and was afraid that not being a political science major would be a detriment to me when I took the LSAT. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Several of the readings and logic puzzles on the LSAT I had encountered before in my philosophy classes, and thus the LSAT ended up being easier for me with my philosophical background. I will begin law school, on a full scholarship, in August and I already feel prepared thanks to the King’s College Philosophy Department.” Elizabeth Wendolowski '11

“I was able to land a job with the FBI—no small accomplishment—proving that yes, you can do something with a degree in Philosophy. In short, Philosophy can make you—and the world around you—a whole lot more interesting. So what are you waiting for? Philosophy: Because it's major.”

A. S. '08 (full name withheld for national security purposes)