Classical Chinese Ethics

Catalog description

How do early Chinese philosophical traditions expand our understanding of ethics beyond the Western frameworks of virtue ethics, deontology, andconsequentialism? This course examines alternative ethical paradigms, including role ethics and moral pluralism, through close readings of classical Chinese texts from Confucianism, Mohism, and Daoism. Discussions will explore foundational questions such as: What constitutes an ethical way of living (dà o) in each tradition? What standards guide moral behavior? and How can we trust these normative frameworks? No prior knowledge of Chinese is required; all texts will be provided in English.