 2016 - 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0687-2465-01 | The Problem of Language in Chinese Philosophy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FACULTY OF HUMANITIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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University credit hours: 2.0
Course description
The ineffability of Dao and the general inadequacy of language as an instrument to convey the true essence of reality are frequently considered a ground principle of Daoist thought, but at the same time they bring up major problems: how can we understand a text that opens with a statement that nothing can be said about its key concept, or that those who know do not speak, and those who speak do not know? Is there any relation between the exceptional style of some Daoist writings and their suspicion towards language? How should we manage the frequent contradictions found the texts present, and is it even possible to get to the bottom of the Daoist authors' ideas?
The class will introduce the different views and opinions which constitute what we nowadays called 'philosophical Daoism', by close reading in some of the texts which contributed to the formation of that school, so as of other schools of thought.
Grade: 80% final paper, 20% active participation.