PHI 124 — Logic Across Cultures: Comparing Eastern and Western Philosophical Traditions
Quarter: Spring
Instructor(s): Mona Rawal
Date(s): Apr 17—Jun 5
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Thursdays
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:20 pm (PT)
Tuition: $465
Refund Deadline: Apr 19
Unit(s): 1
Enrollment Limit: 40
Status: Registration opens Feb 24, 8:30 am (PT)
Quarter: Spring
Day: Thursdays
Duration: 8 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:20 pm (PT)
Date(s): Apr 17—Jun 5
Unit(s): 1
Tuition: $465
Refund Deadline: Apr 19
Instructor(s): Mona Rawal
Enrollment Limit: 40
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Registration opens Feb 24, 8:30 am (PT)
Studying both Eastern and Western philosophies enriches our understanding of humanity's diverse intellectual heritage. It encourages the cultivation of critical thinking skills and equips us with invaluable insights to navigate our intricate, interconnected world. Surprisingly, these traditions are seldom examined together. This course offers an engaging introductory exploration of these diverse traditions, with logic as our guiding compass.
Through dynamic discussions and engaging readings, the course will explore the profound role of logic in shaping both philosophical traditions. We’ll first examine the Eastern philosophical systems of logic from the Nyāya, Vaisheshika, and Buddhist schools, which engage with fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics. Next, we'll venture into the Western philosophical terrain inhabited by the Stoics and Aristotle, characterized by different but unwavering emphases on reason and the pursuit of human well-being. Finally, we'll engage in a comparative analysis, bridging the Eastern and Western worlds, from Confucianism to Aristotle, from Taoism to Seneca’s Stoics. Students will gain a foundational understanding of key figures, their philosophies, and how logic shapes their reasoning. This comparison will reveal the diverse approaches to critical thinking and the intricate logical structures underpinning beliefs across cultures. Students will leave the course with a broad awareness of the shared wisdom and unique insights of both Eastern and Western thought.
Through dynamic discussions and engaging readings, the course will explore the profound role of logic in shaping both philosophical traditions. We’ll first examine the Eastern philosophical systems of logic from the Nyāya, Vaisheshika, and Buddhist schools, which engage with fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, and ethics. Next, we'll venture into the Western philosophical terrain inhabited by the Stoics and Aristotle, characterized by different but unwavering emphases on reason and the pursuit of human well-being. Finally, we'll engage in a comparative analysis, bridging the Eastern and Western worlds, from Confucianism to Aristotle, from Taoism to Seneca’s Stoics. Students will gain a foundational understanding of key figures, their philosophies, and how logic shapes their reasoning. This comparison will reveal the diverse approaches to critical thinking and the intricate logical structures underpinning beliefs across cultures. Students will leave the course with a broad awareness of the shared wisdom and unique insights of both Eastern and Western thought.
MONA RAWAL
Philosophy Instructor and Chair, Department of Humanities, Foothill College
Mona Rawal has taught courses in symbolic deductive logic and critical thinking since 1998 in Mumbai, India, and the United States. Her primary interests and endeavors are in the growing field of ethics in technology and AI. She is working toward creating interdisciplinary bridges between Eastern philosophical traditions and Western analytic inquiries. She received a PhD in philosophy of consciousness and qualia from the University of Mumbai and a diploma in Buddhist studies. She has also received the EPIC (Education Partnership for Internationalizing Curriculum) fellowship from Stanford Global Studies, aimed at internationalizing core curricula and developing global competencies among community college students. She is interested in creating courses that illuminate the complexities of human experiences across cultures. Textbooks for this course:
(Recommended) Bimal Krishna Matilal , Logic, Language and Reality: Indian Philosophy and Contemporary Issues (ISBN 78-8120807174 )
(Recommended) Dr Jonardon Ganeri, Indian Logic: A Reader (ISBN 978-0700713295)
(Recommended) Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic (ISBN 978-1285196541)
(Recommended) Dr Jonardon Ganeri, Indian Logic: A Reader (ISBN 978-0700713295)
(Recommended) Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic (ISBN 978-1285196541)