東亞儒家：人文精神一(East Asian Confucianisms: Humanism (1))

National Taiwan University via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/east-asian-confucianisms-humanism1

Introduction

### Course Review: East Asian Confucianisms: Humanism (1) #### Course Overview The Coursera course titled **"East Asian Confucianisms: Humanism (1)"** is an enlightening exploration into the rich tradition of Confucianism in East Asia, viewed through a modern lens. It dives deep into the core values of Confucian thought as articulated by legendary philosophers such as Confucius, Mencius, and Zhu Xi, as well as the perspectives of Confucian scholars from Japan and Korea. The course not only lays out the wisdom of these thinkers but also engages with contrasting philosophies like Taoism and Buddhism, contextualizing these traditions within the challenges of the 21st century. The course aims to enhance students' familiarity with East Asian humanistic spirit and equip them with the ability to leverage traditional cultural values to tackle contemporary issues. The combination of lectures and assignments promises a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. #### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Introduction: Revisiting East Asian Confucian Humanism in the 21st Century** - Focus on modern trends and their implications for Confucian thought. - Delve into why revisiting East Asian humanistic traditions is particularly relevant today. 2. **Overview: The Humanistic Spirit in East Asian Confucian Tradition** - Explore the core values, dimensions, and significant insights offered by Confucian humanism for contemporary education. 3. **The Wisdom of Confucius** - Revisit Confucian thought to address questions about self-identity, interaction with others, ecological concerns, and supernatural issues. 4. **Life Wisdom in Mencius’ Thought** - Examine the differences in worldview due to historical context, focusing on Mencius’ perspective on life's vitality and its implications for modern society. 5. **Insights from the "Great Learning"** - Discuss the interconnection between personal life and societal dynamics, investigating the philosophical underpinnings of this classic work. 6. **Body Perspective and Self-Cultivation in East Asian Confucianism** - Analyze the relationship between the self and the world, emphasizing self-cultivation practices and comparative studies with Buddhist views of the self. 7. **The Confucian Perspective on Life and Death** - Examine Confucian views on existential themes, comparing them with Taoist, Buddhist, and Christian perspectives. #### Pros of the Course - **Rich Cultural Context**: The course provides in-depth analysis rooted in historical and philosophical contexts, offering students a multi-dimensional view of Confucianism. - **Engaging Content**: The structure, balancing lectures and assignments, fosters active learning. - **Contemporary Relevance**: The focus on modern implications of ancient wisdom makes the course particularly engaging for those interested in applying traditional philosophies to contemporary challenges. #### Who Should Take This Course? This course is ideal for: - **Students of Philosophy**: Those interested in Eastern philosophies will find significant value in the analyses and discussions held throughout the course. - **Cultural Enthusiasts**: Individuals looking to understand East Asian cultures through their philosophical roots. - **Professionals in Education and Social Sciences**: Educators and social workers seeking tools to incorporate humanistic values into their practices. #### Conclusion and Recommendation Overall, **"East Asian Confucianisms: Humanism (1)"** is a thoughtfully curated course that invites participants to engage deeply with the humanistic traditions of East Asia. It excellently bridges historical teachings with contemporary relevance, making it a must-take course for anyone interested in the philosophical underpinnings that shape societies and thoughts in the region. I highly recommend this course for its scholarly depth, engaging format, and practical insights into integrating age-old wisdom into modern life.

Syllabus

第 1 講 導論：為什麼在21世紀必須重溫東亞儒家人文精神

本課程的核心理念，是從現代觀點，探討東亞儒家人文傳統之核心價值及其展開，並分析其現代啟示。在本講，我們將首先從：（1）21世紀出現哪些新的發展趨勢？以及（2）東亞儒家人文精神的內涵如何？對21世紀有何新啟示？這兩個問題的探討中，切入思考「為什麼在21世紀必須重溫東亞儒家人文精神？」展開論述，以作為全課程各個講次的立論基礎。

第 2 講 總論：東亞儒家傳統中的人文精神

本講，我們總論東亞儒家傳統中的人文精神，將探討三個主要問題：（1）東亞儒家人文精神的核心價值是什麼？（2）東亞儒家人文精神的主要面向有哪些？其中最重要的突出面向是什麼？（3）東亞儒家人文精神對21世紀人文精神教育有何新啟示。藉由「身與心」、「自我與他者」、「自然與人文」、「過去與現在」等視野，綜論東亞儒家人文精神的特色與展望。

第 3 講 孔子的生命智慧

本講，我們要在21世紀，重訪孔子，並向孔子叩問生命的答案。探討的問題有四：第一，在知識經濟時代，我們要如何安頓自我？第二，自我如何與他者互動？第三，21世紀面臨生態環保的問題，我們如何與自然相處？第四，如何對待超自然問題？

第 4 講 孟子思想中的生命智慧

我們認為，東亞儒學人文精神是源遠流長而日新又新的一種精神傳統。因之，在前一講我們重訪孔子，本講則聚焦在孟子，觀察孔孟因其所處時代環境的不同，造就生命風格的差異。我們將集中在三個問題上進行探討：第一，孟子的生命觀如何？第二，什麼是生命中的浩然之氣？什麼是踐形？第三，孟子的生命智慧有何21世紀的啟示？

第 5 講《大學》的生命智慧

東亞儒家相信個人與世界是互動的，這樣的概念在《大學》這本書中有完整的呈現。因之，本講將聚焦有三個問題：（1）什麼是「大學」？（2）《大學》這部經典中的生命觀如何？（3）《大學》的生命觀中潛藏哪些問題？我們希望藉由《大學》的生命智慧，來引導我們思考兩個問題：公領域與私領域的運作邏輯有何不同？從「正心」到「治國平天下」如何可能？

第 6 講 東亞儒家的身體觀與修身方法

古典儒學對「個人」與「世界」關係的理解，十分重視「修身」的問題，並有相應的主張。因之，本講將聚焦三個問題，討論「身體觀」與「修身方法」：（1）東亞儒家身體觀如何？（2）東亞儒家如何思考「自我」？與佛教的「自我」觀比較，有何特質？（3）東亞儒家修身方法有哪些？

第 7 講 東亞儒家的生死觀及其人文精神

生與死是生命的永恆課題，也可以說是哲學的根本問題。在本講，我們將討論儒家的生死觀，以及其反映出的人文精神。我們將聚焦在兩個問題上進行探討：（1）儒家如何思考「生」「死」問題？儒家生死觀潛藏哪些人文精神價值理念？（2）儒家生死觀與道家、佛教與基督教生死觀有何差異？