FYSP 056 - The Way of Heaven and Earth

FC ARHU WINT

4 credits
The great philosophers of classical China lived in an age not entirely unlike our own, beset by considerable division and strife but also full of incredible beauty and sophistication. Thinkers such as Confucius, Mencius, and Zhuangzi all pondered deeply many of the questions still facing us today, and the answers they offer are some of the most compelling in the history of human thought. How can we flourish as individuals? How do we make ethical choices? How should we build organizations and societies that are fair and just? And how can we live happier, more meaningful lives? In this course, we will explore together the ideas and texts of the most well-known classical Chinese thinkers, and in so doing contemplate how their Dao, their “Way,” is an ancient path that retains powerful resonance for our modern world.