University of Delaware

Indian Religion & Philosophy
 PHIL 309
Spring 2004
Alan Fox
office hours T 11am - noon/Th 1- 2 pm or by appointment
15 KENT WAY 831-8077 AFOX@UDEL.EDU
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REQUIRED TEXTS GRADING POLICY Exams will consist of shorter and longer essay questions. No multiple choice questions will be asked. Please note that the midterm exam is scheduled for the day before spring break. No make-up exams will be given, except in case of medical emergency. If you have not already made plans, you can either change them or drop the course at this point. These will consist of 7 one or two page essays responding to questions designed to prepare you for class discussion. For that reason, no late papers will be accepted for any reason whatsoever. These papers will be graded Pass (A, 95), Pass Minus (C, 75), and Not Pass (F, 50), and one grade will be dropped at the end of the semester. Any student who turns in every paper and receives a Pass for all of them will earn an A+ (100) average for the papers. All papers must be typed unless otherwise specified. These are not meant to be research papers, and are to be written on the basis of the assigned reading only. Use of uncited sources of any kind will be taken to constitute plagiarism. The class will be discussion oriented, so consistent participation is a requirement. No participation in discussion will earn a C. Periodic participation earns a B, and extensive participation earns an A. After this grade is assigned, I will subtract from it 3 points for every unexcused absence and 1 point for every lateness. Five points will be added to the class participation grade of anyone with a perfect attendance record. I reserve the right to insist on medical withdrawal in lieu of failure in cases where even excused absences are overly prolonged or frequent to the point of violating the integrity of the course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course will cover the major philosophical and religious traditions in the Indian culture, including the Vedic tradition, Jainism, Buddhism, and the mature Hindu philosophies including Samkhya Yoga and Advaita Vedanta. We will also look at some modern developments in Indian thought. The course is a 300 level philosophy course, so the goal is not only to learn about Indian philosophy but also to philosophize ourselves-that is, we will also try to learn to think "philosophically."

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

(all handouts are included in the course manual)
 
#
Date
Topic
Reading
Writing 
1
2/11
Introduction, overview of Indian systems, Vedas

2
13
Vedas: history, evolution,
Social Structures
Embree pp. 3-28, 
Hamilton: ch.1
handout: Classical Vedic Caste System
3
16
Vedas: history, evolution,
Social Structures
Embree pp. 203-273
Hamilton: ch. 2
Discuss the notion of purusartha.
4
18
Vedas: history, evolution,
Social Structures
Embree pp. 203-273
5
20
Gita: Devotional Hinduism
Embree pp. 274-296, 
319-34, Bhagavad Gita
6
23
Gita: Devotional Hinduism
Embree pp. 274-296, 
319-341, Bhagavad Gita
 
7
25
Upanisads: metaphysics
Embree pp. 29-40
handout: the Sheath Model
 
8
27
Upanisads: metaphysics
Embree pp. 29-40
 
9
3/1
Introduction to 
Orthodox Systems, Nyaya
Hamilton: ch. 4
Discuss the Nyaya five-limbed syllogism. What is notable about it? 
10
3
Nyaya
Hamilton: ch. 5
 
11
5
Vaisesika
Embree pp. 296-302
 
12
8
Vaisesika, Samkhya
Embree pp. 296-302
Hamilton: ch. 7
 Discuss the Samkhya dualism of matter (prakrti) and Spirit (purusa).
13
10
Samkhya
Embree pp. 302-308
  
14
12
Samkhya
handout: The Evolution of Prakrti
15
15
Samkhya
 
16
17
Yoga
handout: Patanjali's Yoga,
Discipline of Freedom
17
19
Yoga
handout: Patanjali's Yoga,
Discipline of Freedom
18
29
Yoga
handout: Patanjali's Yoga,
Discipline of Freedom
 
19
31
Review for Exam
 
bring questions
20
4/2
Midterm Exam
 
21
5
Buddhism: Introduction, 
Fourfold Axiom
Embree pp.43-48, 93-152
Hamilton: ch. 3
Keown: ch. 1, 2
  
22
7
Buddhism: Fourfold Axiom, the Eightfold Path
Keown: ch. 3, 4
Dhammapada
 Discuss the Buddhist "Four Noble Truths."
23
9
Buddhism: causality, anatman
Keown: ch. 5
Dhammapada
Handouts: Pratityasamutpada, the Five Skandhas
24
12
Buddhism: meditation, Prajnaparamita
Embree pp. 153-187
Hamilton: ch. 6
Keown: ch. 7
Buddhist Meditation handout (on reserve)
handouts: 
Evolution of Buddhist Tradition, Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Wisdom

25
14
Buddhism: Madhyamika
Handout: Nagarjuna
26
16
Buddhism: Madhyamika
Handout: Mulamadhyamikakarikas Chapter 7
27
19
Buddhism: Yogacara
Handout: Vasubandhu
28
21
Buddhism: Yogacara
Handout: Vasubandhu
29
23
Jainism: Introduction, Ontology, Epistemology
Embree pp. 49-75
 Discuss the Jainist "Theory of Perspectives" (syadvada).
30
26
Jainism: Conclusions
Embree pp. 76-92
31
28
Advaita Vedanta: Introduction
Embree pp. 308-318,
Hamilton: ch. 8
Deutsch: intro, ch. 1
32
30
  Advaita Vedanta: Metaphysics
Deutsch ch. 2,3
 What does Deutsch mean by "subration?" Offer examples which demonstrate how the concept applies to Vedantin metaphysics.
33
5/3
Advaita Vedanta: 
Personal Identity, karma
Deutsch ch. 4
 
34
5
 Advaita Vedanta: 
Personal Identity, karma
Deutsch ch. 5
35
7
Advaita Vedanta: Epistemology, Ethics
Deutsch ch. 6, 7
36
10
Advaita Vedanta: Soteriology
Deutsch ch. 8
37
12
Modern Developments:
Sikhism
Embree pp. 491-510
38
14
Modern Developments:
Religion and the Social Sphere
materials on reserve: Tagore, Gandhi, Aurobindo from "Great Thinkers of the Eastern World"
In what ways does Gandhi or  Aurobindo rely on tradition and in what ways do they break from it?
39
17
Ayurveda: Indian Medical Philosophy
to be announced
40
19
review for Final Exam