Self-Cultivation Philosophies (PHIL 7310) Christopher Gowans Spring 2017 Semester, Tuesday 1:30—3:30 P.M.

Self-cultivation philosophies propound a program of development in which a person is substantially transformed from (what is judged to be) the ordinary problematic condition of human beings into (what is put forward as) an ideal state of well being—living an intrinsically valuable life to the highest extent. These philosophies were common in ancient “axial age” traditions in China (e.g., Confucianism and Daoism), India (e.g., Buddhism and Yoga) and Greece (e.g., Epicureanism and Stoicism). Manifestations of them are also found in some later philosophical outlooks.

The first part of this class will provide an analysis of the nature, kinds and plausibility of self-cultivation philosophies through an examination of some of the aforementioned ancient self-cultivation philosophies in China, India and Greece by reading translations of primary sources and interpretations by contemporary scholars (such as Philip J. Ivanhoe, Roger Ames, Edward Slingerland, Matthew Kapstein, Jay Garfield, Dale Wright, Jonardon Ganeri, Pierre Hadot, Martha Nussbaum, Richard Sorabji and others). Depending on time and interest, we may give attention to some ways in which these philosophies relate to contemporary work in psychology and neuroscience. (As a bonus feature of the course, some time will be devoted to providing students with guidelines for incorporating the teaching of traditional Chinese and Indian philosophy into their undergraduate courses.)

With this analysis of self-cultivation philosophies as a foundation, the remainder of the class will be determined and largely run by students in light of your own interests. Each student will choose a particular figure—or perhaps something such as a school of thought—that may be interpreted as promoting a self-cultivation philosophy, select appropriate texts for the members of the seminar to read (primary and perhaps secondary sources), give a presentation and lead a discussion during one class, and then write a term paper. This may come from any philosophical tradition. Possible self-cultivation philosophies in the Western tradition that might be explored include the thought of Socrates, Aristotle, Boethius, Bonaventure, Montaigne, Pascal, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Foucault, Nehamas, and some contemporary proponents of virtue ethics and perfectionist (nature-fulfillment) theories of well being. The choice will be up to each student in consultation with me.

For a more extensive explanation of self-cultivation philosophies and my interpretation of them, see “Self-Cultivation Philosophies in the Ancient World: An Introduction” on my website at http://christophergowans.com.