Department of Philosophy
University of Western Ontario
Philosophy 154E ‘Asian Philosophies’
First Term Tentative Reading List*
1st week (Sept. 4th) Introductory remarks; introduction to philosophical method: No readings (see class handout on philosophical method and Eastern Philosophy).

2nd week (Sept. 9th and 11th) Concluding the introduction to philosophical method; initial orientation to Hinduism; Vedic Hinduism: Class handout; AP4 Chp.1. (pp.3-11); AP4 Chp.2, pp.14-19.

3rd week (Sept. 16th and 18th) The Upanishads: AP4 Chp.2, pp.19-26; CP, pp.1-10.

4th week (Sept. 23rd and 25th) Beginning the Bhagavad Gita: AP4 Chp.4, pp.44-46; BG Chps.1-5 (pp.41-87).

5th week (Sept. 30th and Oct. 2nd) The Bhagavad Gita continued: BG Chps.6-10 (pp.88-130).

6th week (Oct. 7th and 9th) ; The Bhagavad Gita continued; The Laws of Manu (Caturvarnashramadharma and purusharthas): BG Chps.11-12 (pp.131-48); AP4 Chp.4, pp.46-52; CP, pp.11-21. 

7th week (Oct. 14th and 16th) The Darshanas; Samkhya-Yoga: AP4 Chp.5 (pp.54-65); CP, pp.23-32.

8th week (Oct. 21st and 23rd) Vedanta: AP4 Chp.7, pp. 81-92; CP, pp.33-39.

9th week (Oct. 28th and 30th) Gandhi: AP4 Chp.10, pp.123-25; CP, pp.41-45.

10th week (Nov. 4th and 6th) Women and Hinduism; beginning Jainism: CP, pp.47-55; AP4 Chp.3, pp.28-34, 39-41; CP, pp.61-64.

11th week (Nov. 11th and 13th) Jainism continued; Women and Jainism: AP4 Chp.3, pp.34-39; CP, pp.60-61, 64-68; CP, pp.69-78.

12th week (Nov. 18th and 20th) Initial look at Buddhism and the ‘biography’ of the Buddha: AP4 Chp.11 (pp.137-46); AP4 Chp.12 (pp.148-55); BS Chp.2, pp.34-64.

13th week (Nov. 25th and 27th) The basic teaching of Buddhism: AP4 Chp.12, pp.155-64; BS Chp.2, pp. 49-57, 60-64.**

14th week (Dec. 2nd) Overflow.

Legend:
AP4: Asian Philosophies, 4th Edition; BG: Bhagavad Gita; BS: Buddhist Scriptures; DP: Dhammapada; CP: Course Pack.

*I reserve the right to make changes to the readings given sufficient prior notice (e.g. a week in advance).
**May be postponed to next term.