Introduces key developments in Daoist practice. Provides a brief sketching of the cultural context of late ancient China (900BCE – 90CE), including some biography regarding the scholars Lao-tzu, Chuang-tzu, and Confucius (700BCE – 300BCE). Also examines the modern appeal of Daoism in the western United States and beyond, including rituals, disciplines, and some theology. To accomplish both the context goals and the understanding of practice, course work compares and contrasts Daodeching and Chuang-tzu with the more familiar aphoristic writing of Marcus Aurelius in order to locate the value of this ancient faith by contrasting it with something that is suitably similar and more familiar in terms of presentation.
Goals, Topics, and Objectives
This course explores the development of Daoism and its influence on the cultures of the Western hemisphere. An emphasis on the unique ways in which Daoism has impacted cultural and philosophical discourse with every new arrival will centralize the exploration.
- History of Daoism
- Describe the development of ancient Daoism
- Describe the scope of its traditional contents
- Explain how this tradition helps evaluate where we are today
- Describe the basic concepts that form the foundations for its practice
- Research into Daoist practice
- Compare and contrast the Daoist worldview against comparable religious traditions.*
- Textual foundations of Daoism
- Analyze the texts that provide the philosophical foundation for the tradition
- Origins
- Describe the Dao’s starting points in China
- Compare and contrast the Dao to Roman stoicism*
- Analyze the memoranda of Marcus Aurelius and its points of comparison
- Understanding Similarities
- Describe some the scholarly interpretations of Daoism
- Analyze the ways in which these similarities help us understand ourselves*
- Daodeching
- Explain the concept of progress through contradictions
- Prepare a short exegetical example on one of the 81 aphorisms
- Describe the key features upon which modern scholarship builds its theories
- Chuang-tzu
- Describe the meaning of the “butterfly flaps its wings” analogy
- Compare and contrast the aphorisms of Marcus Aurelius and Chuang-tzu
- Compare and contrast the brain and the heart
- Western Contexts: Marcus Aurelius
- Briefly summarize Stoicism
- Identify some similarities between the writings of Aurelius and Chuan-tzu
- Identify some differences between the writings of Aurelius and Chuan-tzu
- Discuss the practicalities of advisors and rulers
- Describe the emergence of Daoism in American business culture
- The Modern Period
- Identify and explain Daoism’s impact on “the ethics of the state”
- Appraise how Daoism provides useful religious and cultural perspectives for today's world.*
Assessment and Requirements
Each instructor will identify and implement appropriate methods to assess the achievement of the learning objectives of the course. These methods can include, but are not necessarily limited to, true-false, multiple-choice, matching, and essay examinations, as well as out-of-class papers, Internet assignments, audio and/or video conferences, and library projects.
- Graham, A.C. (2001). Chuang-tzu: The Inner Chapters. Hackett Publishing.
- Any translation of the meditations of Marcus Aurelius.
- A PDF of the Daodeching will be provided online.
Outcomes
- Humanities and Fine Arts
- Civil Society and Culture - U.S. and Global
- Humanities
- Category 5: Humanities and Fine Arts
Credit for Prior College-Level Learning
Determined by department