GV4H1 Half Unit
Chinese Political Thought
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Leigh Jenco
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in China in Comparative Perspective and MSc in Political Theory. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
This course is capped at two groups. Priority will be given to students enrolled on the MSc in Political Theory.
The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Tuesday 29 September 2020. You will be informed of the outcome by 17:00 on Wednesday 30 September 2020.
Course content
This course will introduce students to recurring debates and concepts within Chinese political thought. We focus on the germinal texts of the Warring States period (circa 400 BCE), such as the Analects of Confucius and the Dao De Jing of Laozi, which continue to shape political debate in East Asia. Reading texts in translation, we will critically examine the variety of normative frameworks that have structured political thinking in Chinese history, with a particular focus on the relationship between personal agency and political outcomes. This is NOT a history course; its broader goal is to help students use Chinese thought to think critically and creatively about political and social life in general and not just in "Chinese" contexts. This course is suitable for students interested in political theory, philosophical approaches to politics, Chinese studies, and/or the history of political thought. Readings are entirely in English and NO prior knowledge of Chinese or China is required.
Teaching
This course is delivered through a combination of seminars and lectures totalling a minimum of 20 hours in the Michaelmas Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of online and on-campus lectures and seminars.This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of the MT.
Formative coursework
• One review essay of a secondary source from the course reading list, 750-1000 words;
• One formative essay of 1500 words maximum excluding footnotes and bibliography, on an assigned topic.
Indicative reading
Ivanhoe, Philip J. Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Edited by Philip J. Ivanhoe and Bryan W. Van Norden. 2nd ed. Hackett Pub Co, 2006. Selections from De Bary, Wm. Theodore, and Richard John Lufrano. Sources of Chinese tradition. Vol. 2, From 1600 through the twentieth century. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.
Assessment
Essay (30%, 1500 words) and class participation (20%) in the MT.
Essay (50%, 2500 words) in the LT.
The class participation element will be assessed via two group projects, quality of contribution to seminar discussion, and participation in online forums.
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2019/20: 17
Average class size 2019/20: 17
Controlled access 2019/20: Yes
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Communication
