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Introductory Comparative Philosophy Courses: Topic-Focused or Tradition-Focused?

Introductory Comparative Philosophy Courses: Topic-Focused or Tradition-Focused?. Society for Teaching Comparative Philosophy February 28, 2014 Jacksonville, FL Jeremy Henkel. Origin of the Question. Teaching “World Philosophy” at Wofford Disappointed with both approaches

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Introductory Comparative Philosophy Courses: Topic-Focused or Tradition-Focused?

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  1. Introductory Comparative Philosophy Courses: Topic-Focused or Tradition-Focused? Society for Teaching Comparative Philosophy February 28, 2014 Jacksonville, FL Jeremy Henkel

  2. Origin of the Question • Teaching “World Philosophy” at Wofford • Disappointed with both approaches • Working on a new World Philosophy textbook – how to structure? • Caveat: is there a relevant difference between world philosophy and more narrowly-focused comparative philosophy courses?

  3. Tradition Approach – Benefits • More sophisticated understanding • “African philosophy” vs. Yoruba, Mbuti, Akan, Ethiopian Enlightenment, etc. • Can see development within a tradition • Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism • Read texts in context, on their own terms • Krishna is not a Kantian

  4. Tradition Approach – Concerns • How to foster inter-tradition dialogue? • Threatens to become World Lit • Difference between comparative philosophy, cultural anthropology • How to define “tradition”? • Is Islam African? Indian? European? Is Buddhism South Asian? East Asian? Both?

  5. Topic Approach – Benefits • Focus on doing philosophy as activity • Easier to avoid cultural anthropology and “philosophology” (memorizing what others have said) • Address concerns about legitimacy of non-western philosophy • Debates about the self (atman) in India, about human nature (renxing) in Confucianism, prove that non-western traditions have genuine philosophy

  6. Topic Approach – Concerns • Pigeon-holes traditions • Should the Daodejing be read for a unit on ethics or metaphysics? • “Canonical” questions are western questions • Treats differences as evidence of inferiority • Sage philosophy (Wiredu), Folk philosophy (Appiah) incorrectly seen as underdeveloped ways of doing philosophy

  7. Proposed Solution • Stick to traditions • Let traditions speak for themselves • Note the differences, focus on explaining why those differences exist • Use insights to highlight the assumptions of one’s own tradition, the contingency of any “canon” • Don’t try to satisfy the doubters • Question-begging definitions of philosophy are immune to correction from without – the first mistake is letting them define the debate

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