Introduction to Asian Philosophy
| Module title | Introduction to Asian Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL1010 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Giovanna Colombetti (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module introduces you to some of the most important philosophical traditions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It analyzes and discusses ancient classical texts in these traditions, and looks at different conceptions of reality, selfhood, consciousness, meditation, virtue and self-cultivation.
Module aims - intentions of the module
At the end of the module, you will be familiar with major Asian philosophical traditions, their historical and social background, and their central concepts as discussed in major classical texts. You will be aware of the existence of spiritual traditions concerned with the practice of self-cultivation, and understand the relationship between meditative practices and philosophical worldviews.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Competently illustrate the main tenets of different Asian philosophical traditions;
- 2. Understand and explain key concepts in classical Indian and Chinese texts;
- 3. Articulate your own arguments in favour of different conceptions of selfhood;
- 4. Explain in an informed way the relation between spirituality, philosophy and meditative practices in different Asian traditions.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Analyze in a critical way different philosophical texts;
- 6. Present and discuss, orally and in writing, a variety of philosophical concepts;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Illustrate and explain difficult ideas in writing and orally;
- 8. Analyze complex ideas and concepts and relate them to their social context;
- 9. Demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Indian traditions: Brahmanical and Hindu thought; Indian Buddhism.
Chinese traditions: Confucianism; Taoism.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 22 | 11 x Weekly 2-hour lectures/seminars or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Weekly assigned readings |
| Guided Independent Study | 8 | Preparation for formative essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Preparation for summative essay 1 |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Preparation for summative essay 2 |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing sample | 200 words | 7-9 | Email feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 50 | 1,400 words | 1-9 | Written |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 1,400 words | 1-9 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay (1,400 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay (1,400 words) | 1-9 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic texts:
Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught. Grove Press, 1994.
P.J. Ivanhoe & B.W. Van Norden, Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Hackett, 2006.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/01/2007 |
| Last revision date | 01/04/2023 |
