Undergraduate Course: Buddhist Philosophy (PHIL10229)

Course Outline
School	School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences	College	College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	20	ECTS Credits	10
Summary	The purpose of this course is to examine major philosophical themes as they have been articulated in the history of Buddhism and the Buddhist traditions.
Course description	Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama¿the Buddha¿who lived in Northern India approximately 2500 years ago. His teachings spread throughout the vast continent of Asia (including Central, East, and Southeast Asia), and were critically appropriated by, while also shaping, many of the cultural, intellectual, and religious traditions and languages which had been flourishing in these regions. The historical development of Buddhist thought is complex, as is manifest in the rise and the fall of numerous schools, set against the backdrop of multiple intellectual traditions. Its significance for the formation of Asian cultures and philosophies cannot be overestimated. This course will focus on several specific themes in the history of Buddhist philosophy (the themes chosen may vary from year to year). This will allow students to pursue a two-fold objective: (1) to deepen their knowledge of the ways in which Buddhist thinkers articulated their problems (and, sometimes, solutions) in their distinct intellectual and historical contexts; (2) to engage in their own versions of Buddhist thinking by reflecting on, and responding to, these problems and the (possible) solutions proposed by philosophers in the multi-faceted history of Buddhism. This course does not require any previous knowledge in the area. All readings will be in English translation.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	There are no pre-requisites for this course, however, Japanese Philosophy or a course in Asian Studies or Buddhist Studies is recommended.

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 0
Course Start	Semester 2
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	Group presentation (20%) Group-research output (20%) Individual final essay (2500 words) (60%).
Feedback	Not entered
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Understand the way in which Buddhist thinkers articulated their problems (and sometimes solutions) in their distinct intellectual and historical context. Demonstrate their knowledge of themes in Buddhist Philosophy. Improve core skills in philosophy, including ability to interpret and engage with philosophical texts, evaluate arguments, and develop critical ideas in response. Analyse influential texts in Buddhist Philosophy.