Indian Philosophy
PL 297, Fall 2005 William Edelglass
T Th 11:00-12:15 Lovejoy 215 Office: Lovejoy 252
859-4551 [email protected]
Office hours: M: 10:30-12:00, T: 1:00-3:00, W: 10:30-12:00, and by appointment. Description: This course is an introduction to some of the central topics, questions,
strategies, and styles of Indian Philosophy. We will begin with a brief survey of the early themes and textual traditions that constitute the inspiration for many Indian philosophers: the Vedas, the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad-gīta, the Laws of Manu, and the early doctrines of Buddhism. This will be followed by a careful reading of Nāgārjuna’s
Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, a book considered by many Buddhists in Central and East Asia to be the most important text in the history of Buddhist philosophy. Then we will look at some central themes that occupied all traditions of classical Indian philosophy after the fifth century CE: What are valid sources of knowledge? What are valid forms of reasoning? Does God exist? What is the nature of the self? Next, we will turn to the ethical teachings of Mahāyāna Buddhism, Jainism, and Vedānta, including how these ethics are applied to personal, social, political, and ecological concerns. Finally, we will reflect on the challenges of interpreting non-western texts, and raise the question of whether we can describe general characteristics of “Indian philosophy.”
Objectives: The aim of this course is twofold: (1) to gain an appreciation for the richness and diversity of Indian philosophical traditions; and (2) to engage
philosophically with some of the prominent concerns and strategies of Indian thought. Format: Class meetings will combine informal lecture with seminar-style discussion. Class periods will be devoted to clarifying the most prominent points in the assigned readings and reflecting together on the questions and ideas that they raise. In addition, some class meetings may include brief experiential exercises relevant to the readings. Required Texts:
1. Garfield, The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nāgārjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (MK)
2. Radhakrishnan and Moore, A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy (SB) 3. Hamilton, Indian Philosophy (IP)
4. Śāntideva, Bodhicaryāvatāra, (BCA)
In addition, there are a number of required readings on Electronic Reserve (ER). Books on Two-Hour Reserve in Miller Library:
1. Mohanty, Classical Indian Philosophy
2. P.T. Raju, Structural Depths of Indian Thought 3. Potter, Presuppositions of India’s Philosophies
4. King, Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Hindu and Buddhist Thought 5. Grimes, A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy
Attendance: You are expected to attend all class meetings, prepared to participate in class discussion. (Attendance also includes bringing the assigned text to class.)
Preparation includes at least one careful reading of the assigned text and bringing written questions and notes to class. For each class meeting set aside about three hours for preparation. Participation means an active engagement in class discussion, which may include particularly attentive listening and making space for others, as well as asking other students questions and responding to their comments.
Because this class will include much discussion, careful preparation, participation, and regular attendance is necessary for its success. I expect you to make a commitment to attend every class, for your own personal learning, and to contribute to the class community. For this reason, after three absences each further absence will result in your final grade being lowered by one letter. For example, if your final grade were to be a B+, and you missed four classes, then your actual final grade would be a C+.
Writing Assignments: Beginning on Tuesday, September 13th, a brief, written response to the reading assignment will be due each class. This daily response should be no more than one page typed single-space and should consist of two elements. First, summarize three main points from the assigned reading for that day. Second, articulate a question, and briefly write why the reading raises this question for you. Though the writing for these daily assignments does not need to be polished, it should reflect a serious and sincere engagement with the text.
You are required to hand in thirteen daily assignments during the semester. When computing your grade, each daily assignment will be worth up to five points. Only under extraordinary circumstances will the daily assignments be accepted late. I don’t expect you to hand in the daily assignment for classes when another assignment is due.
On Tuesday, October 25th, a five-page paper is due in class for peer review. Upon reviewing each other’s work, you will return the paper with your comments by class on Tuesday, November 1st. The final draft will be due on Tuesday, November 8th. The grade for this paper will reflect how well you were able to incorporate the changes suggested in the peer review process. The paper will be worth up to fifty points.
The final paper is due on Monday, December 19th, at 2:00 pm, in my office. This paper will be eight to ten pages, and will be an opportunity for you to explore in depth a theme or question from Indian philosophical traditions. We will go over the expectations for this paper together in class. It will be worth 100 points, or one-third of your grade.
All written assignments for this class should be typed, with one-inch margins and twelve-point font. The daily assignments can be single-spaced; the papers should be double-spaced. Put your name, my name, the course title, and the date on the first page. Number and staple the pages, and make sure to keep a copy. In the interest of cutting less tress and using less toxins in the production of paper, I encourage you to print on both sides of the paper when you hand in your work.
Many of the diacritical marks necessary for transliterating Sanskrit words are not available on standard fonts. In order to properly transliterate, you will need to download a font with diacritics. I strongly recommend Times Extended Roman, which is available for free download at: http://www.bcca.org/services/fonts/.
Your writing should follow the paper checklist that accompanies this syllabus. Please read your papers carefully before handing them in. You should catch all spelling errors and most grammatical errors. Please proofread your paper. Spell checking is not
the same as proofreading. I strongly suggest that you share your work with another student, as a fresh eye can often catch mistakes or vague writing.
Learning to write well-crafted, reflective papers will be one of the most
significant foundations of your college education. Writing well is not easy. For many students writing is an intimidating challenge. If you are having difficulty or are feeling overwhelmed, please make an appointment with me; I will be happy to work with you on your writing no matter what level of confidence or skill you happen to have. Also, the Writing Center is available for all students and can assist you in improving your skills in reading, writing, and studying. Their website is: http://www.colby.edu/writers.center/. The Writing Center website has good links that answer many writing questions:
http://www.colby.edu/writers.center/writinglinks.html, and also tips for writing:
http://www.colby.edu/writers.center/tips.html. For help with writing philosophy papers in particular, see: http://www.philosophypages.com/sy.htm. For bibliographies on Indian philosophy, and to get a sense of current scholarly research on Indian philosophy, see: http://faculty.washington.edu/kpotter/ckeyt/home.htm.
Exams: This class will have one in class examination, worth 50 points, and two short vocabulary quizzes, worth ten points each. There will be no final exam.
Office Hours: I will have office hours on Monday and Wednesday from 10:30-12:00, and Tuesday from 1:00-3:00. Sometimes office hours can be busy. I would be happy to make an appointment for a longer period of time. You can speak to me after class, call, or email me. Also, I will expect each of you to make an appointment to meet with me once during October – to talk about how the semester is going when there is still some time to make some changes – and once after Thanksgiving – to speak about your final paper.
Grading: I believe that receiving honest evaluation from teachers and peers is an important element in learning. I do not believe that giving letter grades is central to the learning process. Throughout the course I will try to communicate clearly about assignments and expectations for excellent work. I will try to be fair, open, and honest about the grading process. College can be very challenging and you may find yourself academically or emotionally overwhelmed. If you are under too much stress, or feel as if you are falling behind, please make an appointment to see me and we can work together to find a way for you to flourish in this class.
The final grade for this course will be computed as follows:
1. Final paper 100 points
2. Thirteen daily assignments, five points each 65 points
3. Five-page paper 50 points
4. In class examination 50 points
5. Two vocabulary quizzes, ten points each 20 points
6. Peer Review 15 points
This will translate into letter grades: 238-230 C+ 300-279: A 229-218 C 278-269 A- 217-209 C- 268-260 B+ 208-200 D+ 259-248 B 199-188 D- 247-239 B- 187- F
Learning Differences: This class will honor all necessary accommodations for students with documented learning differences. If you have a learning difference or believe you may have a learning difference that requires specific accommodation, please make an appointment with Mark Serdjenian (x4255) in the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will then let me know which accommodations are appropriate.
Academic Honesty: I support Colby’s commitment to academic honesty. Have faith in your own ability to think clearly and creatively. Don’t plagiarize.
Reading Schedule:
Date Author Assignment
09/08 Th Introduction: syllabus, course goals, and expectations EARLY THEMES AND TEXTUAL TRADITIONS
09/13 T Vedas Hamilton, IP 18-26
The Vedas, SB 8-16, 17-21, 23-24, 25-26, 28-36.
Dasgupta, “”The Vedas, Brāhmaṇas and Their Philosophy” ER 10-27 09/15 Th Upani0ads
Hamilton, IP 27-33
Hiriyanna, “The Upaniṣads” ER 48-83
The Upani-ads SB 39-42, 45-55, 63-64, 67-76, 93-96 09/20 T Short vocabulary quiz
Bhagavad-gīta
Bhagavad-gīta, SB 102-29, 132-38, 143-45, 157-63 Kumar, Bhagavad-gīta ER 67-88
Miller, “Key Words in the Bhagavad-gīta” ER 163-68 09/22 Th The Laws of Manu
The Laws of Manu, SB 173-92 09/27 T The Four Noble Truths
Hamilton, IP 34-56 Hinayana, SB 273-292
14th Dalai Lama, “The First Turning of the Wheel” ER 15-18 09/29 Th In class examination
NĀGĀRJUNA’S MŪLAMADHYAMAKAKĀRIKĀ 10/04 T Garfield, MK 87-135
Rosh Hashanah
10/06 Th Garfield, MK 136-88 10/11 T Fall Break: No Class 10/13 Th Garfield, MK 189-230
Yom Kippur
10/18 T Garfield, MK 231-83 10/20 Th Garfield, MK 284-359
10/25 T FIRST PAPER DUE IN CLASS Discussion, Midcourse Evaluation EPISTEMOLOGY
10/27 Th Pramā6a: Valid Sources of Cognition Hamilton, IP 70-83
Nyāya Sūtra SB 358-79
Kumar, “The Nyāya System: The School of Logical Realism” ER 291-305 Mohanty, “Theory of Knowledge (Pramāṇa Theory)” ER 15-25, 30-31 11/01 T PEER REVIEW OF FIRST PAPER DUE IN CLASS
Nyāya: Valid Forms of Reasoning Nyāya Sūtra SB 358-79
PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
11/03 Th Short vocabulary quiz
Theism: Nyāya, Uttara Mīmā8sa (Vedānta), and Yoga Nyāyakusumāñjali of Udayanācārya, SB 379-85
The Non-Dualism of Śa7kara, SB 509-17 Kumar, “Vedānta Philosophy” ER 437-66
11/08 T FINAL DRAFT FIRST PAPER DUE IN CLASS Atheism: Buddhism and Cārvāka
Cārvāka SB 228-49
Raju, “The Cārvāka and Its Anti-Vedic Materialism” ER 78-102
Hayes, “Principled Atheism in the Buddhist Scholastic Tradition” ER 1-17, or: http://www.unm.edu/~rhayes/atheism.pdf
ETHICS
11/10 Th Bodhicitta
Śāntideva, Bodhicaryāvatāra, BCA 3-8, 30-44
14th Dalai Lama, “The Benefits of Bodhicitta” ER 9-19 11/15 T Pāramitās on the Bodhisattva Path
Śāntideva, Bodhicaryāvatāra, BCA 45-104, 138-43 11/17 Th Buddhism and Ecology
Kinsley, “Buddhism: Ecological Themes” ER 84-98 Harris, “Ecological Buddhism?” ER 171-81
11/22 T Jainism and Ecology
Phillips, “The Jain Ethics of Non-Injury” ER 380-82 Tatia, “The Jain Worldview and Ecology” ER 3-16 Koller, “Jain Ecological Perspectives” ER 19-32 11/24 Th Thanksgiving Recess: No Class 11/29 T Nonviolence
Chapple, “Origins and Traditional Articulations of Ahi8sā” ER 3-20 Gandhi, “Non-violence” ER 133-41
Gandhi, “The Practice of Non-violence” ER 94-125 12/01 Th Guest Speaker
Prof. Douglas Allen, University of Maine, On Gandhi INTERPETING INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
12/06 T Orientalism, Postcolonialism, and “Indian Philosophy” Said, “Orientalism” ER 87-91
King, “India and the History of Philosophy” ER 1-16, 24-40 Ganeri, “Indian Logic and the Colonization of Reason” ER 1-22 12/08 Th What is Indian Philosophy?
Kapstein, “What is ‘Buddhist Philosophy’?” ER 3-22
Garfield, “Philosophy, Religion, and the Hermeneutic Imperative” ER 251-60 Krishna, “Three Myths about Indian Philosophy” ER 3-15
Mohanty, “Theory and Practice in Indian Philosophy” ER 19-34 12/19 M FINAL PAPER DUE