Philosophy

Based on the analysis of philosophical texts, artists' writings, and works of art, this course studies the first major themes of aesthetics and philosophy of art (imitation, judgment). The course provides the basics of a general culture in the aesthetic field and promotes mastery of the techniques of dissertation and commentary from a methodological point of view.
 

This course is an introduction to the works and philosophy of Soren Kierkegaard, the internationally renowned Danish philosopher, theologian, and writer. Considered as the father of existentialism, Kierkegaard's works revolve around basic human experiences such as aesthetic lust, despair, anxiety, morality, passion, knowledge, absurdity, and faith. In particular, Kierkegaard claimed to present a complete summary of the possible ways in which we can live our lives or exist. The course also analyzes and criticizes these ways thoroughly in order to judge to what extent they may give us a true point of orientation. This course examines his witty, humorous, and deeply earnest exploration of the philosophical psychology of self-identity. It remains especially attentive to how Kierkegaard considers human relationships to be essential to understanding oneself and one’s obligations to other human beings. Lectures focus on a discussion of excerpts from Kierkegaard's writings. The course includes a City Walk through old Copenhagen and a guest lecture that explores Kierkegaard's view of love. The course does not presuppose specialized knowledge and is eligible to students of all majors.

This course requires reading several short texts by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Immanuel Kant, which introduce us to ideas about philosophy and what constitutes philosophical inquiry. As different as these two philosophers are, Rousseau had a tremendous impact on Kant. It is helpful to read Kant in the light of Rousseau. Each thinker will introduce us to some basic philosophical problem and we will think for ourselves about these problems.

This course aims to introduce the subject of philosophy but also the activity of philosophizing. This means that there will be much discussion in class and a fair amount of writing outside of class. The ideal would be to form a "community of inquirers." The depth of realizing this ideal will be up to each student.
 

This course explores the nature of law, the origin and history of lawmaking, and the relationship between law and the common good. It analyzes texts from important philosophers including Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, and more. 

Neoplatonism is the last great ancient Greek philosophical tradition, founded in the 3rd century by Plotinus, who is arguably the most important ancient Greek thinker after Plato and Aristotle. Neoplatonism had a tremendous historical influence on subsequent philosophy, in both the European and Islamic worlds. Above all, however, the Neoplatonists are distinctive for their own philosophical interest and value, developing fascinating positions on issues such as the structure of reality, the soul and its happiness, the nature of evil, and the meaning of freedom. The Neoplatonic tradition also devoted considerable attention to the interpretation and harmonization of Plato and Aristotle. Anyone interested in the work of these two thinkers is likely to find Neoplatonism of interest too.

We have various images of how the ideal human being should live. This course seeks to answer this question from a philosophical point of view through various philosophical methods.
 

There are two notable features in this course. First, the course attempts to use the images of ideal human beings taken both from western culture and Japanese culture, highlighting similarities and differences that transcend the difference of cultural background. In doing so, the course engages participants to seek what their ideal human being looks like.

Second, the course will utilize classical philosophy texts such as Descartes’s and Kant’s philosophy texts, but also Muneyoshi Yanagi’s writings on the works of Japanese folk art (Mingei) and Kenji Miyazawa’s poem.

This course addresses the following topics:

1. Rationality and intellect as an ideal capacity for human beings
2. Anti-intellectualism and its problems
3. Beauty and the image of ideal human beings

The question of the nature of the mind and its relation to the body (e.g. the brain) is discussed at length, with attention given to dualism, behaviorism, physicalism, and functionalism. Other topics include the nature of action, free will, and determinism and the problem of personal identity. DP requirements: Regular attendance at lectures and tutorials; completion of all tests, submission of all essays and assignments by due dates, and an average mark of at least 35% for the coursework. Assessment: Coursework counts 40%; one 3-hour examination in June counts 60%. Course entry requirements: At least second year status. 

This semester-long course introduces the Zen culture of Kyoto to Japanese and foreign students of Doshisha University.  It especially focuses on the main teachings, philosophical values, aesthetics, practices, and applications for daily life. By doing specific activities, writing assignments and oral presentations, students increase their knowledge and the meaning of what they have learned from their interactions and shared experiences.  The course compares between the different branches of Japanese Zen, and the Zen manifestations in other countries to strengthen final debates and discussions as well as to aid in the formation of group research projects for final evaluation.

What kind of anthropology is it that we, as scholars and students of the discipline, should or need to be advocating – also and especially with a view to current timely demands for conceptual and structural decolonization? How has anthropological critique questioned the fundamentals of the discipline (of anthropology) itself? Which programmatic pathways have been sketched out to indicate constructive ways forward? What do we think of them; which others would we like to raise; why? Does the inclusion of, and focus on theory from the South already constitute a fundamental change? How might anthropology engage constructively with thinkers and theoretical contributions from the global South? In which ways, finally, does it matter that we as researchers and social agents are inevitably positioned in certain ways, often belonging clearly to regions of the Global North or South? This seminar course will pursue these and related questions with a view to some classic and some recent readings, both from within and outside anthropology, and engaging with theorizing from the South, especially from Africa.

The subtitle to Søren Kierkegaard’s The Sickness unto Death captures both the tone and the overall project for this seminar as: A Christian Psychological Exposition for Upbuilding and Awakening. From this point of orientation, an exploration of the Kierkegaardian oeuvre will unfold that focuses on what he believes to be the earnest need of attending to the dual existential tasks of self-examination and the strengthening of the inner being through spiritual upbuilding. In “building up” from his spiritual diagnosis on the various forms of existential despair – and by way of his cycle of discourses on the “lilies of the field and the birds of the air” – this course will ultimately arrive at Kierkegaard’s proclamation of “how glorious it is to be a human being.”