This course focuses on philosophies originating in Asia, possibly including, but not necessarily limited to, those of India, China, Japan, and Korea. These philosophical traditions offer a valuable opportunity to broaden a student's intellectual perspective because they are largely free from the influence of the Hellenic philosophers that are so foundational to the Anglo-European canon. The course emphasizes engagement with primary source texts and attempts to locate those texts within the social, political, and historical contexts from which they emerged. The particular content of the course may vary in terms of the traditions explored and historical timeframe but will always do so in a way that respects the richness of the many distinct philosophies that have emerged from the Asian continent.
