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Warfare was a major concern in Warring States China. Discuss the place of a philosophy of martiality (or its absence) in at least three Warring States texts. You may want to consider the Analects, the early Mohists, the Sunzi, the Daodejing, the Zhuangzi, the Mencius and the Xunzi. Did these writers think that conflict was inevitable? How did mastery of warfare figure in Chinese portrayals of sagacity?
Warfare was a major concern in Warring States China. Discuss the place of a philosophy of martiality (or its absence) in at least three Warring States texts. You may want to consider the Analects, the early Mohists, the Sunzi, the Daodejing, the Zhuangzi, the Mencius and the Xunzi. Did these writers think that conflict was inevitable? How did mastery of warfare figure in Chinese portrayals of sagacity?
How is an explicit view of human nature fundamental to the ethical and political thought of Xunzi? What was the nature of his disagreements with Mencius on this basic question? (How) does Xunzi’s view of human nature affect his views on other issues? For example, why is ritual so important to Xunzi, and what does he mean by the term?
How is an explicit view of human nature fundamental to the ethical and political thought of Xunzi? What was the nature of his disagreements with Mencius on this basic question? (How) does Xunzi’s view of human nature affect his views on other issues? For example, why is ritual so important to Xunzi, and what does he mean by the term?
Zhuangzi’s legends about “sages” are unique in the Chinese tradition. What, for Zhuangzi, makes a person a sage? You may want to discuss the importance of skills, “knack,” and the mastery of crafts. Give examples to illustrate your discussion.
Zhuangzi’s legends about “sages” are unique in the Chinese tradition. What, for Zhuangzi, makes a person a sage? You may want to discuss the importance of skills, “knack,” and the mastery of crafts. Give examples to illustrate your discussion.
Discuss the topic of fatalism as it appears in at least two texts you have read this term.
Discuss the topic of fatalism as it appears in at least two texts you have read this term.
Only use the book, no outside sources. Only use the book (uploaded pdf version). The book is this book: Mudimbe, V. Y. The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge . Indiana University Press, 1988.
Explain one aspect or chapter of the book
Structure:
Start the response essay by answering the following questions in a page, no more:
– Why does it talk about the invention of Africa? Afterall Africa hasn’t been invented
– What does it mean that Africa has been invented? Who invented Africa?
– What does that mean for colonizers to invent Africa? How was it invented? Power dynamics
– Consequences of the invention of Africa. For Africans themselves. Capacity to define and talk about themselves
– To what extent was it bias by this initial invention of Africa?
From there write a response and reflect more specifically on one chapter of the book, it needs to pick one theme, one aspect, one chapter and the chapter must answer questions. The questions need to answer one chapter of the book.
Only use the book, no outside sources. Only use the book (uploaded pdf version). The book is this book: Mudimbe, V. Y. The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy, and the Order of Knowledge . Indiana University Press, 1988.
Explain one aspect or chapter of the book
Structure:
Start the response essay by answering the following questions in a page, no more:
– Why does it talk about the invention of Africa? Afterall Africa hasn’t been invented
– What does it mean that Africa has been invented? Who invented Africa?
– What does that mean for colonizers to invent Africa? How was it invented? Power dynamics
– Consequences of the invention of Africa. For Africans themselves. Capacity to define and talk about themselves
– To what extent was it bias by this initial invention of Africa?
From there write a response and reflect more specifically on one chapter of the book, it needs to pick one theme, one aspect, one chapter and the chapter must answer questions. The questions need to answer one chapter of the book.