Eastern Philosophy Seminar
Code: 108432Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | OP | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- David Jorge Casacuberta Sevilla
- Email :
- david.casacuberta@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites
Objectives
Eastern Philosophy aims to provide students with a systematic and rigorous introduction to the major currents of philosophical and spiritual thought in Asia. Through an itinerary that begins with the classical traditions of India — from the foundational concepts of Brahmanism and the Upanishads to the development of the original Buddhist schools — the course seeks to enable students to understand the central questions that structure these traditions: the nature of the self, the relationship between mind and reality, the foundations of ethical action, and the paths toward liberation or enlightenment. The emphasis is not merely descriptive but genuinely philosophical: the aim is to examine arguments, concepts, and worldviews with the same analytical rigour applied to any other tradition of thought.
The second part of the course shifts its focus to China and Japan, exploring classical Daoism — with its central notion of wu-wei and the relationship between human beings and the natural flow of things — and the transformations Buddhism underwent as it came into contact with Chinese culture, giving rise to Chan Buddhism and, subsequently, to Japanese Zen. The study of these traditions encompasses both their foundational texts and their philosophical and contemplative practices, with particular attention to their conceptions of mind, the nature of consciousness, and methods of direct inquiry such as the kōan. The ultimate aim is for students to be able to situate these traditions within their historical and cultural context, while also engaging with them philosophically, recognising them as legitimate interlocutors in the great discussions of universal philosophy.
Learning outcomes
- CM23 (Critically interpret, through the integration of different philosophical knowledge, the human dimension in its multiple facets: existential, social, ethical and aesthetic.) Critically interpret, through the integration of different philosophical knowledge, the human dimension in its multiple facets: existential, social, ethical and aesthetic.
- CM24 (Develop a plural, reflective and committed philosophical attitude, capable of dialoguing with different cultural traditions and ways of thinking.) Develop a plural, reflective and committed philosophical attitude, capable of dialoguing with different cultural traditions and ways of thinking.
- CM25 (Attempt a philosophical reflection oriented towards life, mutual understanding and the critical transformation of social, symbolic and cultural frameworks.) Attempt a philosophical reflection oriented towards life, mutual understanding and the critical transformation of social, symbolic and cultural frameworks.
- KM26 (Recognise the diversity of ways in which philosophy is expressed and articulated with culture, politics, literature, and everyday life.) Recognise the diversity of ways in which philosophy is expressed and articulated with culture, politics, literature, and everyday life.
- KM27 (Identify interpretative frameworks for the analysis of complex philosophical texts, both classical and contemporary, in their respective historical and cultural contexts, highlighting in both the social position of the subjects.) Identify interpretative frameworks for the analysis of complex philosophical texts, both classical and contemporary, in their respective historical and cultural contexts, highlighting in both the social position of the subjects.
- KM28 (Identify key concepts, problems, and authors from different philosophical traditions, both Western and non-Western, with an emphasis on omissions due to gender, race, or class discrimination.) Identify key concepts, problems, and authors from different philosophical traditions, both Western and non-Western, with an emphasis on omissions due to gender, race, or class discrimination.
- KM46 (Recognise through debates the relationship between literature, philosophy, knowledge and interpretation of reality.) Recognise through debates the relationship between literature, philosophy, knowledge and interpretation of reality.
- SM27 (Make a rigorous and profound analysis of philosophical texts from various traditions and genres, identifying argumentative structures, presuppositions and key problems.) Make a rigorous and profound analysis of philosophical texts from various traditions and genres, identifying argumentative structures, presuppositions and key problems.
- SM28 (Apply philosophical categories in interdisciplinary contexts, articulating conceptual thinking, historical sensibility, and critical awareness.) Apply philosophical categories in interdisciplinary contexts, articulating conceptual thinking, historical sensibility, and critical awareness.
- SM29 (Communicate complex philosophical reflections, both orally and in writing, with clarity, argumentative coherence and use of technical language in diverse discursive contexts.) Communicate complex philosophical reflections, both orally and in writing, with clarity, argumentative coherence and use of technical language in diverse discursive contexts.
- SM45 (Comparatively analyse philosophical and literary texts, exploring how both fields dialogue on topics such as subjectivity and truth.) Comparatively analyse philosophical and literary texts, exploring how both fields dialogue on topics such as subjectivity and truth.
Contents
1.Introduction. Singularity, similarities and differences between Eastern and Western thought.
2.Classical Hindu Philosophy.
- 2.1 Brahmanical philosophical schools.
- 2.2 Non-Brahmanical philosophical schools.
3.Theravāda Buddhism.
4.Mahāyāna Buddhism.
5.Chinese Philosophy.
- 5.1 Daoism.
- 5.2 Ch'an Buddhism.
- 5.3 Zen Buddhism.
6.Recapitulation: What can Eastern philosophy contribute to contemporary thought?
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building bridges between Western and Eastern philosophical traditions through philosophical debate. | 20 | 0.8 | CM23, KM26, KM27, KM28, SM29, SM45 |
| Independent reading of classical texts of Eastern thought and philosophy. | 30 | 1.2 | CM24, CM25, KM27, SM27, SM28, SM45 |
| Study of the philosophical foundations of the classical thought traditions of India and China, including examination of their discrepancies and similarities with Western philosophy. | 80 | 3.2 | CM23, CM24, KM27, KM28, SM29 |
The methodology of this course combines lectures, participatory seminars and guided practical activities, with a strong emphasis on active philosophical analysis and direct engagement with the classical texts of Eastern thought.
- Lectures will introduce the fundamental concepts and the historical-philosophical context of each tradition studied.
- Participatory seminars will foster critical reading, conceptual analysis and collective debate based on the central texts and philosophical problems of each thematic block.
- Written assignments may incorporate the use of ChatGPT as a tool to support philosophical reflection, requiring transparency in prompting and an explicit reflection on its application to Eastern thought.
- Examinations will assess students' in-depth understanding of the content and their ability to apply it in a well-reasoned manner.
The course promotes active participation, a critical attitude and a transversal perspective on the contributions of Eastern thought to the great universal philosophical questions.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted in this course as an integral part of the development of assignments, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution by the student in terms of personal analysis and reflection. Students must: (i) identify which parts have been generated with AI; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final outcome of the activity.
Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in any assessed activity will be considered a breach of academic integrity and will result in the activity being graded with a 0 with no possibility of resubmission, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Exam | 40 | 0.5 | 0.02 | CM23, CM24, KM27, KM28, SM29 |
| Debate Participation | 20 | 7.5 | 0.3 | CM23, CM25, KM26, KM46, SM27, SM45 |
| Written Essay | 40 | 12 | 0.48 | CM24, KM26, KM28, SM28, SM45 |
Written assignment. Students will submit a synthesis exercise demonstrating their engagement with the in-person classes and the various readings proposed throughout the course, drawing connections to other subjects in the degree program.
Oral examination. The oral examination is designed to assess the originality of the ideas presented by the student in the written assignment.
Participation in debates. At the end of each thematic block of the course, a debate will be organised to connect the different ideas discussed, offering a variety of viewpoints and perspectives.
Resit
Students must have submitted at least two of the assessed activities in order to be eligible for the resit.
It will consist of a comprehensive examination.
The Department of Philosophy may establish (as was the case during the first semester) a concentrated period for assessed tests. Teaching staff will inform students at the beginning of each course whether such a period exists and what the relevant dates are.
This course does not offer the single assessment option.
Bibliography
Deshimaru, Taisen (2000) Zen verdadero. Introducción al Shobogenzo.
Lessig, D. (trad) Tao te King. Editorial Koan
Lopez, D. (2011) The story of Buddhism. A concise guide to its historiy and teachings. San Francisco: Harper
Loy, D. (1999) No dualidad. Editorial Kairós
Okumura, S. (2010) Realizing genjokoan: the key to Dogen's Shobogenzo. Wisdom Publications.
Siderits, M. (2007) Buddhism as philosophy. Hackett.
Villalba, D. (Trad) Shobobenzo. Editorial Kairós
Zhuang Zi. El libro de Zhuang Zi. Editorial Kairós
Software
No specific software is required.
Students may use generative AI to write the written assignment if they consider it necessary.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |