(in Polish) Introduction to Philosophy of the Far East

elective monographs
general courses

The main goal of the lecture is to provide a general overview of various philosophical traditions in Asia and to show that the very idea of philosophy is not exclusively a Western notion. We will focus on Indian, Chinese, and Buddhist philosophies and discuss their key concepts, ideas and characteristics. Buddhist thought will be presented both in its original Indian context as well as in its later developments in East Asia.

The main goal of the lecture is to provide a general overview of various philosophical traditions in Asia and to show that the very idea of philosophy is not exclusively a Western notion. In order to do this we will read and analyze the most important source texts of selected Asian schools of thought, showing philosophical problems and topics presented there.

We will focus on Indian, Chinese, and Buddhist philosophies and discuss their key concepts, ideas and characteristics. Buddhist thought will be presented both in its original Indian context as well as in its later developments in East Asia. Chronologically we will be limited to broadly understood classical period of the aforementioned traditions. While this constraint does carry some methodological difficulties, especially with providing a clear definition of the classical period in respective traditions, its main purpose is to provide reasonable limitations to the source material discussed.

Our focus will thus be on the main authors from Confucian (Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi), Daoist (Laozi, Zhuangzi, Liezi) and Legalist (Han Feizi) traditions. We will refer to fragments of the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. We will also discuss the main concepts and assumptions of six orthodox schools of Indian thought (Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta) and finally present the basic teachings of some of the most significant and influential Buddhist thinkers.

While classes have a form of lecture, active participation of students (questions, remarks, suggestions etc.) definitely is encouraged.

Required Readings:

Adamson P., Ganeri J., A History of Philosophy Without any Gaps. Classical Indian Philosophy, Oxford 2020.

Gavin F., Martin Ch., The Bhagavad Gita, New York 2015.

Gethin R., The Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford/New York 1998.

Hamilton S., Indian Philosophy. A Very Short Introduction, Oxford 2001.

McLeod A., Understanding Asian Philosophy, London/New York 2014.

Olivelle, P., Upaniṣads. Oxford 2008.

Van Norden, Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy, Indianapolis/Cambridge 2005.

Van Norden B., Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy, Indianapolis/Cambridge 2011.

Further Readings:

Burton D., Buddhism. A Contemporary Philosophical Investigation,

Deutsch E., Bontekoe R., (eds.), A Companion to World Philosophies, Malden/Oxford 1999.

Graham A., Disputers of the Tao. Philosophical Argument in Ancient China, La Salle, Illinois 1989.

JeeLoo Liu, An Introduction to Chinese Philosophy, Oxford 2006.

Jurewicz J., Fire, Death and Philosophy, Warszawa 2016

Jurewicz J., Invisible Fire. Memory, Tradition and the Self in Early Hindu Philosophy, Warszawa 2021

Koller J., Asian Philosophies 7th edition, New York 2018.

Edelglass W., Carter P-J., McClintock S. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Indian Buddhist Philosophy, New York 2023.

Williams P., Mahayana Buddhism. The Doctrinal Foundations, 2nd Edition, New York 2009.

Williams P., Tribe A., Wynne A., Buddhist Thought. A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition, London/New York 2012.

Knowledge: Students gain basic knowledge and understanding of crucial concepts and ideas present in selected Asian philosophical traditions.

Abilities: Students learn how to read, interpret and understand the most important source texts of Asian schools of thought.

Social skills: Students are aware of diversity of philosophical traditions and are able to better function in multicultural environments.

In order to receive credit all students need to pass an oral test based on selected readings.

Number of absences: 2 in a semester