Ancient Paths to Freedom. Selected Philosophical Problems in the Traditions of East and West 3800-SDW23-S
The aim of the seminar is to present and discuss both selected source texts and the most important comparative studies relating to the Greco-Roman, Indian and Chinese philosophical traditions. Classes will be structured according to philosophical problems and chronologically will be limited to broadly understood antiquity, although it will also be possible to refer to later authors. The main point of reference will be the concepts of spiritual exercises by Pierre Hadot and care of self by Michel Foucault, while the possibility of their application to philosophical ideas formulated in Asian traditions will also be discussed. The course will cover topics such as: the problem of freedom and the ways leading to its achievement, the concepts of wisdom and the sage as the point of arrival of philosophical practice, therapeutic dimension of philosophy, the problem of nature and man's relationship to it, or the problem of social order and the possibility of its implementation. Classes will be devoted to selected philosophical proposals of the astika (the so-called Brahmin schools, referring to the Vedas) and nastika (Jainism and Buddhism) schools. We will refer to fragments of the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist texts and others. We will look at writings from the Confucian (Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi) and Taoist (Laozi, Zhuangzi, Liezi) circles. Thanks to the reading and analysis of selected source texts from the Western and Eastern traditions, it will be possible to show the multiplicity and diversity of philosophical questions and answers, as well as forms of philosophical practice.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: Participants acquire and develop knowledge about the possibility of juxtaposing and comparing Western and Eastern philosophical concepts while interpreting selected philosophical issues.
Abilities: Participants are able to recognize, prioritize and interpret key topics in source texts presented on the seminar. Furthermore they gain the ability to express their views in a clear and articulate manner.
Social skills: Participants are aware of diversity and richness of Eastern and Western philosophical traditions are and are able to understand crucial differences between them. This enables the students to better function in multicultural environments.
Assessment criteria
To obtain credit and complete the seminar with a positive result the student is required to:
- actively participate in discussions
- submit an or give a presentation essay on a selected topic
Number of absences: 2
Bibliography
Feng Youlan, Krótka historia filozofii chińskiej, tłum. M. Zagrodzki, Warszawa 2001.
Filozofia Wschodu, red. B. Szymańska, Kraków 2001.
Foucault M., Hermeneutyka podmiotu, tłum. M.Herer, Warszawa 2012.
Hadot P., Czym jest filozofia starożytna?, tłum. P. Domański, Warszawa, 2000.
Hamilton S., Filozofia indyjska. Wprowadzenie, tłum. M. Szkółka, M. Jakubczak, Kraków 2011.
JeeLoo Liu, Wprowadzenie do filozofii chińskiej. Od myśli starożytnej do chińskiego buddyzmu,
Kraków 2010.
Koller J., Asian Philosophies 7th edition, New York, 2018.
Zotz V., Historia filozofii buddyjskiej, tłum. M. Nowakowska, Kraków 2007.
Further Reading:
Balcerowicz P., Historia klasycznej filozofii indyjskiej, cz. I, Warszawa 2003, cz. III, Warszawa
2016.
A Companion to World Philosophies, E. Deutsch, R. Bontekoe (eds.), Malden/Oxford 1999.
Filozofia kultur Wschodu, red. P. Mróz, M. Ruchel, A. Wójcik, Kraków 2015.
Frauwallner E., Historia filozofii indyjskiej, 1-2, Warszawa 1990.
Nakamura H., Systemy myślenia ludów Wschodu: Indie, Chiny, Tybet, Japonia, tłum. M. Kanert, W. Szkudlarczyk-Brkić, Kraków 2005.
Jakubczak K., Madhjamaka Nagardżuny. Filozofia czy terapia?, Kraków 2010.
Radhakrishnan S., Filozofia indyjska, tłum. Z. Wrzeszcz, Kraków 2020.
Schayer S., O filozofowaniu Hindusów, Warszawa 1988.
Schwartz B., Starożytna myśl chińska, tłum. M. Komorowska, Kraków 2009.
Teksty źródłowe:
Bhagawadgita czyli Pieśń Pana, tłum. J. Sachse, Wrocław 1988.
Filozofia Wschodu. Wybór tekstów, red. Marta Kudelska, Kraków 2002.
Konfucjusz, Analekta, tłum. K. Pejda, Warszawa 2018.
Laozi, Księga dao i de z komentarzami Wang Bi, tłum. A. Wójcik, Kraków 2006.
Mencjusz z wybranymi komentarzami, tłum. M. Religa, Warszawa 2021.
Muttavali. Wypisy z ksiąg starobuddyjskich, tłum. I. Kania (różne wydania).
Upaniszady, tłum. M. Kudelska, Kraków 2004.
Zhuangzi, Prawdziwa Księga Południowego Kwiatu, tłum. M. Jacoby, Warszawa 2009.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: