Dr. Shyam Ranganathan
shyamr@yorku.ca

“ Asia is home to two of the three major world philosophical traditions: the Indian and Chinese traditions. The roots of these traditions stretch back past 1000 BCE. In addition, Asia is home to smaller but important traditions of philosophy that are related to these two major traditions,  including East Asian (Japanese and Korean) philosophy as well as Tibetan philosophy. The topics discussed in each of the two major traditions parallel the scope of topics found in the West: everything from ethics, epistemology, metaphysics, logic and the philosophy of language can be found in great sophistication in these traditions. In the limited time afforded to us in a half year course, our theme will be a topic of philosophical attention that is largely peculiar to Asian philosophy, namely meditation. In exploring this theme, we will address the question of the nature of the self (whether there is such a thing), the relationship between personal and moral freedom, and practical considerations in moral self-improvement. There are no prerequisites for this course.”

Chan, Wing-tsit. A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy. Princeton, N.J.,: Princeton University Press, 1963. (Available in the York University Book Store.) (SB)

Patañjali. Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra: Translation, Commentary and Introduction by Shyam Ranganathan  (Black Classics). Delhi: Penguin, 2008.

The course will also rely upon online readings. One of these readings is a Course Reader downloadable from our class website (CR). The other is a text available online (O). A link to O will be posted in time for the readings.

• Participation: 40 %
• Essay: 30 %
• Final Exam: 30 %

TBA

• Distinguish philosophical reasoning and argument from other forms of explanation.
• Become familiar with the basic areas of philosophical theory.
• Be able to write a philosophical paper.
• Be able to identify and discuss historically influential philosophers and philosophies from Asian philosophy.