Philosophical traditions: Beyond the western canon

What it covers

Philosophy has been practised across traditions for millennia. However, studies about philosophy often limit themselves to Euro-centric philosophical discourse. This unit begins by investigating the formation and consequences of such “canon,” before turning to the rich and differing philosophical traditions that have often been marginalised within the discipline. In this unit, you will cover philosophical texts within various traditions as well as reflect critically on the boundaries, methods, and assumptions of philosophy as a discipline. Topics and philosophers will vary by semester, but may include: Daoist, Confucian, Buddhist, Hindu, and African philosophical traditions, as well as Indigenous philosophies of Oceania, and Latin American and Southeast Asian decolonial thought. Questions addressed may include: What is the self? How ought we imagine our social lives if selfhood is relational and/or impermanent? How do social conditions and epistemic frameworks from varying traditions shape how we know and live?

Assessment

When and where