Practicing the Way – Confucian Ethics in Action

The course combines theoretical learning alongside practical activity, through a new approach of applied philosophy that offers connection between learning and experience. We will look at how to apply the principles of ancient Confucian wisdom, in Israel of the 21st century. The course will teach students the first of the "Four Books" canonic Confucian classics - "The Great Learning" – a core influential text which has shaped Chinese culture and society for many generations. The book contains eight principles for achieving human prosperity on personal, communal, social and even worldwide levels. During class we investigate the process of self-cultivation as approached by "The Great Learning",  which appeals to every person, regardless of space and time, within a call for a realization of its principles in human actions.

In the practical part, the students will visit school children in Tel-Aviv and work with them, according to the "eight stages" method which is presented in the text. "The Great Learning" deals with an inner change that begins with researching the human relations to the environment, objects, plants, animals, and humans. From this environmental investigation, a path is paved for expanding the exploration and for nurturing ourselves and our emotions, and furthermore to examine and understand the interpersonal relationships within the family, community, society, and the world. This is a continuous learning process that relates to the student's experience and to the implementation of the stages in their own self, combined with an encounter with school children. The inter-human encounter is essential to the learning process, both the internal-personal and external-educational. The practical activity will be accompanied by a close supervision of Ms. Inbal Shamir, and by lesson plans that will help students in teaching and practice the Confucian "way of learning".

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There will be two meetings regarding the practical activity – an initial preparatory meeting will be held on Friday, 24.3.17 at 10:00 and a mid-session will be held on Wednesday, 10.5.2017 at 8:30.

Each student will complete 20 hours of practical activity throughout the semester, in eight sessions that will take place on Fridays in pre-schools (there might be flexibility in the activity dates, according to need), in order to create a strong connection between the theoretical study and the practical realization.

* If a student cannot become involved in a school, it is possible to consider an alternative social activity with the approval of the instructor.

Prerequisites are not required. Grade composition : 30% - Active participation includes filing of 3 short assignments; 30%  field log; 40% - final assignment.

In the practical part the students came to school children in the center and work with the text proposed method. "Great theory" is about an inner change began with a human relations to the environment, whether objects, plants, animals, or humans. From environmental investigation, paved way for progress the exploration and nurturing ourselves and our emotions, are examining and understanding the interpersonal relationships within the family, community, society, and world. This is a continuous learning process and student experience and implementation phases combined his own encounter with school, inter-human encounter is essential to the learning process personal-internal and external-educational. Accompanied by practical activities under supervision of Ms. Inbal Shamir, and arrays that will help students in realizing the "way of learning" Confucian.

Both meetings will be the subject of actual activity - initial preparatory meeting will be held on Friday at 10:00 at the -24.3.2017 and mid-session will be held on Wednesday, -10.5.2017 at 8:30.

Each student will complete 20 hours of practical length of the semester during eight sessions will take place on Fridays schools (possible flexibility during operations as appropriate), in order to create a strong connection between theoretical study practical realization.

* A student who could become involved in the schools, it will consider the possibility to meet other social activities with the approval of the instructor.

Prerequisites are not required. Grade composition (Q & A): 30% - Active participation includes filing of 3 short assignments; 30% log field; 40% - work done.