HISTORY OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

Philosophy 301

Fall 2026 Syllabus

Section 001
CRN: 81950
Tuesdays and Thursdays
2:00 — 3:15 PM

Dr. Timothy J. Freeman
The University of Hawaii at Hilo
Edith Kanaka‘ole Hall 212
office: 932-7479; cell: 345-5231

freeman@hawaii.edu

Office Hours:
Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:00-1:50 PM

CATALOGUE COURSE DESCRIPTION

Phil 301 History of Chinese Philosophy
Survey of the development of the philosophies of China: the classical schools including Confucianism and Daoism, as well as the development of Buddhist philosophy in China, and the subsequent development of Neo-Confucianism. The continuing development and relevance of Chinese philosophy. Recommended: previous work in philosophy. (Attributes: DH, HPP)

REQUIRED TEXTS

Philosophers of the Warring States: A Sourcebook in Chinese Philosophy, Kurtis Hagen and Steve Coutinho, Broadview Press, 2018.
The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us about the Good Life, Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh, Simon & Schuster, 2017.

COURSE CONTENT

This course will provide an overview of the history of Chinese philosophy. We will focus primarily on the “classical period” of Chinese philosophy in which six schools of thought developed during the Warring States Period in Chinese history. We will focus on the development of the two most important schools in this period, Confucianism and Daoism, but will also consider Mohism, Legalism, and the Yinyang philosophy. After this examination of the philosophers of the Warring States, we will consider the later development of Buddhism in China, and then the development of Neo-Confucianism. As in Western philosophy, Chinese philosophers were concerned with questions concerning ontology, epistemology, moral theory, and political philosophy, and we will examine and discuss what Chinese philosophers had to say about these questions.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

[Philosophy courses for GE purposes]: (As with all Philosophy courses) Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
●respond clearly, logically and critically to examination questions and discussion questions about some important philosophical issues relevant to the course;
●read, comprehend, and discuss philosophical texts relevant to the course;
●compose effective written materials that assimilate, synthesize and reflect on course information;
●identify and describe in writing and in class discussion some important aspects of the cultural heritage and contributions of Chinese philosophy.

COURSE FORMAT

UH Hilo Designation of Types of Courses
This is a Hybrid course. There will be a combination of online and in person instruction. The instructor determines when students will attend face-to-face (in the classroom, laboratory, and/or field experience). Students are expected to attend face-to-face sessions as required by the Instructor.

CLASSROOM POLICIES

Students will be expected to attend classes in the classroom unless notified otherwise for online instruction.
You are expected to come on time and to stay until the end of the class.
No food is to be consumed in the classroom during class time.

GRADING

Attendance and Participation (10%):
Philosophy comes alive and most interesting through discussion, through engaging with each other about questions raised in the texts.

Mid-term essay assignment (40% each)
A 4-5 page essay assignment.

Final Term Paper (50%)
The final term paper should be 6-8 pages in length and develop at least one of the short essay assignments.

Grading will be determined according to the following scale:
A 95-100 Excellent
A - 90-94
B + 87-89
B 84-86 Good
B - 80-83
C + 77-79
C 74-76 Satisfactory
C - 70-73 Poor
D 60-70 Failure
F below 60

SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS

Current, up to date statements regarding ITS, Disability Services, Advising, Academic Integrity, Kilohana Academic Success, Student Conduct, Mental Health, Students of Concern, and Title IX/EEO can be found at the following links:
Short Link
Mobile link

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

Fall 2026 Academic Calendar
Fall 2026 Final Exam Schedule

Course Schedule

Week 1: Introduction to Chinese Philosophy

Tai Chi Tu, 太極圖
The Great Ultimate, Zhang Huang, Ming Dynasty

Tuesday, 25 August

Course Introduction and Orientation
Outline of History of Chinese Philosophy
Overview of Chinese Philosophy

Key Philosophical Terms

Thursday, 27 August

Yinyang Philosophy

What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
The Age of Philosophy
(The Path: 1-22)

Introduction
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 17-28)

Week 2: Confucianism—The Analects of Confucius

Kong Zi
(Confucius)
(551–479 BCE)
Portrait of Confucius as Minister of Justice in Lu State
Aonymous, Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, Ming dynasty

Tuesday, 01 September

Da Due: "Expansive Learning"
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 59-65)

*September 1: Last day to register to add classes and to withdraw from courses without owing tuition*

Thursday, 03 September

The Analects of Confucius
Confucius on Personal Conduct and Character
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 67–92)

Week 3: Confucianism—The Analects of Confucius

Portrait of Confucius
Qiu Ying (about 1497 — 1552).

Tuesday, 08 September

The Analects of Confucius
Confucius' Political Philosophy
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 92–104)

Thursday, 10 September

The Analects of Confucius
Confucius' Worldview and Attitude towards Spiritual Matters
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 104–112)

What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
On Relationships: Confucius and As-If Rituals
(The Path: 23-53)

*September 11: Last day to exercise Credit/No Credit and final deadline to apply for Fall 2026 Graduation*

Week 4: Confucianism—The Philosophy of Meng Zi

Mengzi
(Mencius)
(372–289 BC or 385–303 or 302 BCE)
Portrait of Meng Zi
Anonymous, Yuan dynasty (1279-1368)

Tuesday, 15 September

Meng Zi
Meng Zi's View of Human Nature

(Philosophers of the Warring States: 113–125)
Film: Ju-Dou

*September 15: Last day to drop a class online without a "W" and last day to receive 50% refund for complete withdrawals.*

Thursday, 17 September

Meng Zi
Meng Zi's Ethical & Political Philosophy
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 125–154)

What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
On Decisions: Mencius and the Capricious World
(The Path: 55-85)

Week 5: Confucianism—The Philosophy of Xun Zi

Xun Zi
(c. 310-235 B.C.E.)

Tuesday, 22 September

Xun Zi
Encouraging Learning
Honor and Disgrace
Discussing the Military

(Philosophers of the Warring States: 155–177)

Thursday, 24 September

Xun Zi
A Discourse on Tian (Heaven)
A Discourse on Li (Ritual Propriety)
Dissolving Beguilement
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 177–208)

Week 6: Confucianism—The Philosophy of Xun Zi

Xun Zi
(c. 310-235 B.C.E.)

Tuesday, 29 September

Xun Zi
Proper Terminology
Natural Dispositions are Detestable
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 208–233)

The Zhong Yong: "Excellence in the Ordinary"
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 235–245)

Thursday, 01 October

Symposium on Confucianism

What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
On Humanity: Xunzi and Putting Pattern in the World
(The Path: 163-181)

Week 7: Mohism—The School of Mo

Mo Zi
(c. 470-391 B.C.E.)

Tuesday, 06 October

Mo Zi
Philosophical System
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 249–274)

Thursday, 08 Otober

*No Class: PACT Conference*

Mid-Term Essay Assignment

Week 8: Daoism—The Lao Zi

Early Spring
Guo Xi, Song Dynasty, 1072

Tuedday, 13 October

Lao Zi
Dao De Jing (D.C.Lau 1963)
Dao De Jing (Feng & English 1989)
Dao De Jing (Ivanhoe & Van Norden 2001)
Ontology and Cosmology
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 277–291)

Thursday, 15 October

Lao Zi
Phenomenology, Meditation, and Spiritual Cultivation
Tian Dao: The Way of the Cosmos
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 291–307)

Rivers and Tides

Week 9: Daoism—The Lao Zi

Laozi on an Ox
Zhang Lu, Ming Dynasty

Tuesday, 20 October

Lao Zi
Ren Dao: The Way of Humans
Wu Wei: Politics, Utopianism, and Empire
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 307–328)

The Inward Training
What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
On Vitality: The Inward Training and Being like a Spirit
(The Path: 119-139)

Thursday, 22 October

What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
On Influence: Laozi and Generating Worlds
(The Path: 87-117)

Video on Daoism

Week 10: Daoism—The Zhuang Zi

Zhuang Zi
(369-298 BCE)

Tuesday, 27 October

Zhuang Zi
Introduction:
The Butterfly Dream
Trained Spontaneity

Thursday, 29 October

Zhuang Zi
Vastness and Wandering Beyond
Philosophy of Vastness as Developed in the Outer Chapters
Transformation: Living and Dying with Tranquility
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 329–360)

*November 2: Last day to drop a class online with a "W"*

Week 11: Daoism—The Zhuang Zi

Zhuangzi Dreaming of a Butterfly
Ink on silk, Lu Zhi, Ming Dynasty

Tuesday, 03 November

*Holiday: Election Day*

Thursday, 05 November

Zhuang Zi
Natural Potency De
Governing
Daoist Philosophy of Skill
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 377–396)

Week 12: Daoism—The Zhuang Zi

On a Mountain Path in Spring
Ma Yuan (馬遠, c.1160-1225), Song Dynasty (960-1279)

Tuesday, 10 November

Zhuang Zi
Language, Knowledge, and Evaluation
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 377–396)

Thursday, 12 November

Zhuang Zi
Utopianism and Mystical Imperialism:
Two Strands of Thought from the Outer Chapters
(Philosophers of the Warring States: 397–410)

What Chinese Philosophy Can Teach Us About the Good Life
On Spontaneity: Zhuangzi and a World of Transformation
(The Path: 141-161)

Week 13: Legalism—The Han Fei Zi

Kneeling crossbowman from the Terracotta Army
assembled for the tomb complex of Qin Shi Huang,
founder of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China.