POLITICAL SCIENCE 113B
CHINESE
Section 612830
Class Meetings: TuTh
Center 212 Tel:
858-449-0455
Office Hours: Tu
E-mail: germaine.hoston@gmail.com
http://www.germaineahoston.com
[1]
TA:
Katherine Moose
Group
E-Mail: poli113b@yahoogroups.com
Class Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/poli113b2008
To subscribe to course website, send e-mail from your primary e-mail address to: poli113b2008-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The
course will be conducted in a combination 1ecture-discussion format. This means
that all students are expected to have completed the assigned readings before
attending the class sessions during which they will be discussed. Only thus can
class discussions be stimulating and conducive to an interactive and effective
learning process. The significance of active and productive participation in
class discussions by every student in the class is reflected in the formula
according to which final grades will be assigned (see page 4 of this syllabus).
Since there is no edited, pre-selected English-language collection of
specifically political philosophy in
Dr.
Hoston holds regular office hours to give students an opportunity to discuss
issues concerning the course and other matters with respect to their career
plans with the professor. In addition,
Ms. Moose also holds regular office hours to discuss the course material,
assignments, and exams. Many times such discussions outside the classroom can
be even more valuable than regular class time for the student. Professor Hoston
is also available to meet with students on other occasions, such as over a
snack or light meal. Please contact her at her e-mail address above any time to
arrange alternative meeting times.
Finally,
to facilitate discussions and to offer an opportunity to discuss course
material outside the classroom, an online discussion group has been
established. On the first day of class,
you will be given your first assignment: to subscribe to the online discussion
group by sending an e-mail to poli113b-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Since
the class is a large one, you are encouraged to
supplement opportunities to participate in class discussions by
participating actively in the on-line
group. The group site will also be used
by the instructors and students to organize review sessions and study groups,
exchange ideas on and suggestions about the midterm written assignment and
final examination, and generally to facilitate the learning process.
Students
are not expected to have a background in Chinese or Japanese history, 4 such
knowledge would be helpful. Students are expected to have some familiarity with
political thought and social science in general.Below
are links through which you can also order new or used copies of these books at
favorable discounts via Amazon.com:
The
following books are available for purchase at Groundwork Bookstore and will
also be available on reserve at the Social Science and Humanities Library:
-Wing-tsit Chan, trans. and comp., A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy
-Wm
Theodore de Bary, Sources
of Japanese Tradition, vols. 1 & 2
-
or
Soothill, Lotus
of the Wonderful Law
Graduate
students will be expected to do additional primary and secondary readings from
a list to be provided by the instructor.
SCHEDULE OF DISCUSSION TOPICS
WEEK 1: WEEK OF JAN 8
Course Introduction.
What is Political
Philosophy? The Notion of the “Political”, Legitimacy, and Comparative
Political Thought
WEEK 2: WEEK OF JAN 15 The
Chinese Historical Setting and the Emergence of Confucianism
WEEK 3: WEEK OF JAN 22 Confucianism and its Contenders: The
Problem of Human Nature (I)
WEEK
4: WEEK OF JAN 29 Confucianism and its Contenders:
The
Problem of Human Nature (II) (Daoism, Mohism,
Legalism)
MIDTERM WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT DUE ON THURS., FEB 7 IN CENTER
WEEK
6: WEEK OF FEB 12 Buddhist
Influences in
WEEK
7: WEEK OF FEB 19 Indigenous
Thought in Ancient
Chan, chaps. 17-19
WEEK
8: WEEK OF FEB 26 The
Elaboration of Buddhism in
WEEK 9: WEEK OF
De Bary, Sources
of Japanese Tradition, I: chaps. 5, 6-7
WEEK 10: WEEK OF
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
All
students are expected to attend every class meeting prepared to participate
actively and constructively in class discussion.[2]
The class participation component of the course grade will be based on such
participation in all sessions. The formula that will determine the final grade
is as follows:
Class
attendance and participation: 30%
Midterm
written assignment: 30%
Final
take-home examination: 40%