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Modern Indian Philosophy
in English (PHIL 451)
Course Description | Course Schedule
Study Helps & Links
Zoom
Fall 2020
Monday-Wednesday-Friday 11:40-12:40
Email: fritzman@lclark.edu
Class Email: 20fa-phil-451-01@lclark.edu
Office Hours:
Monday-Wednesday-Friday 10:30-11:30 & 1:00-2:00,
and by appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Rainer Maria Rilke (as quoted by J. M. Coetzee): “We are born, so to speak, provisionally, it doesn’t matter where; it is only gradually that we compose, within ourselves, our true place of origin, so that we may be born there retrospectively.”
There are two required texts:
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield
2017
Minds Without Fear: Philosophy in the Indian Renaissance
Oxford University Press
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0190457597/
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, editors
2011
Indian Philosophy in English: From Renaissance to Independence
Oxford University Press
https://www.amazon.com//dp/0199769257/
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In this course, we’ll read important modern Indian philosophers who wrote in English. These philosophers are seldom read, both in the West (because they’re Indian) and in India (because they wrote in English).
We’ll partially rectify this injustice. First, we'll read these philosophers. Second, we’ll critically engage with their writings—and with relevant secondary literature—thereby honoring them as philosophers. Hopefully, we’ll thereby become philosophers ourselves, and human.
Here are the learning outcomes for students who graduate with a major in Philosophy.
Each student will write and present in class one in-class presentation, an Assessment (which has both oral and written components) on a specific reading assignment. There also will be one Argumentative Research Paper (which includes a Prospectus, two Drafts, and a mandatory Final Rewrite). And an in-class oral Presentation of the Argumentative Research Paper on the Final Exam Day.
Class Participation and Attendance will count for 10% of your final grade. The Assessment will count for 10% of your final grade. The Prospectus will count for 5%, the First Draft will count for 10%, the Second Draft will count for 10%, and the Final Rewrite will count for 50% of your final grade. The Presentation will count for 5% of your final grade. The grading scale is as follows:
A = 93%-100%
A- = 90%-92%
B+ = 86%-89%
B = 83% 85%
B- = 80%-82%
C+ = 76%-79%
C = 73%-75%
C- = 70%-72%
D+ = 66%-69%
D = 60%-65%
F = 0%-59%.
An Assessment should be approximately 3000 words, typed, double-spaced. You will sign up for a date on which you will orally present your assessments. On the day you present, you will distribute copies to all of the persons in this class. This will require, of course, that you have enough copies made so that each member of the class has one.
You first will read aloud your assessment. Then, you and I will serve as the main resource persons for fielding questions concerning the material. Since the class discussion will be centered around the assessment, it is crucial that you distribute the assessment the class session when you present it, and that you actually be in class to read your assessment.
An assessment is not a summary of the reading. Rather, its primary purpose assessment is to summarize, consolidate, and explicate the central issues, main points, and key motifs of the assigned reading in order to facilitate class discussion of the material. It is important that the assessment contextualize the reading by describing briefly both how the reading is a continuation and development of material which has come before, and how it contributes to the overall trajectory of the thinker's thought.
It is crucial that you critically engage the reading. You might argue that a claim that the author makes is incorrect, for example, or that a criticism in the secondary literature is incorrect. Alternatively, you might argue that an interpretation advanced in the secondary literature is incorrect. The assessment must reflect an acquaintance with the requisite secondary literature. This means that you must incorporate at least three secondary sources you consulted while writing your assessment.
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, and Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy will be useful.
The Philosopher's Index will be vital for the Assessment and Argumentative Research Paper.
The Chicago Manual of Style's Citation Quick Guide is online.
There will be an Argumentative Research Paper, 3000 words, typed, double-spaced. It will be on the same topic as your assessment.
You're welcome to consult the Writing Center, located on the main floor of Watzek Library.
Also useful is the Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University.
If you would find it useful to create concept maps, to help write your assessment or argumentative research papers, you can download the software to create them from IHMC Cmap Tools.
All work must be submitted when it is due.
This class will be successful only if there is a high degree of participation and attendance, and so I want you in class participating. The final grade for the course will be lowered by a full-letter grade if you miss four unexcused class sessions, the final grade will be lowered by two full-letter grades if you miss five class sessions, etc. Serious illnesses and emergencies will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Throughout the course you are expected to read carefully the assigned material. It is impossible to do well in this course without reading and studying the books. You should spend a minimum of three hours preparing for each class session. Read the assigned material at least twice and take notes on what you read. You are expected to attend all class sessions, come to class having read thoroughly the assigned material, and to contribute to the discussions.
While there may be few answers that can be know for certain, there are better and worse arguments and ideas, usually in direct proportion to thoughtfulness and care. What is important is that you think for yourself, and that you develop and defend your own ideas. It would be an excellent idea to write drafts or outlines of your papers, and to have a comrade read them to check on spelling, grammar, development of arguments, and so forth.
You are strongly encouraged to discuss the class material, your ideas, your puzzles and difficulties with each other. A word to the wise: Find a study partner to discuss things with outside of class. (To see why this is effective for creativity and learning, read Malcolm Gladwell's article, Group Think: What Does "Saturday Night Live" Have in Common with German Philosophy?, The New Yorker, 2 December 2002, pages 102-107).
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When it comes to writing, though, do your own. That is the only way you will get the full benefit of your own efforts. I will be happy to discuss ideas with you, read outlines and rough drafts, and so forth. That is partly why I keep office hours.
A final word to the wise. It is not difficult to do well in this course, but it also is easy to do badly. Let me talk about the bad stuff first. You will receive a major grade reduction—or fail this course—if you do not read the material, seldom participate in class discussions, do not write your assessment, or argumentative research paper, plagiarize, cheat, and so forth.
About plagiarizing and cheating. All students must follow Lewis & Clark College's Academic Integrity Policy. Plagiarizers and cheaters will be given an "F" for the entire course (they will not be allowed to drop or withdraw from the course). I also will turn their cases over to the Honor Board; I will recommend that disciplinary penalties be assessed. It is never in your interest to plagiarize or cheat!
Now for the good stuff. With a concerted effort, you will do well in this class. To do well, you must participate in class discussions, read and study the assigned material, write the assessment, argumentative research paper, be in class (almost) all of the time, etc. I do not grade on a curve, and so there is no good reason why you should not get an "A" for the course!
The Writing Center will be available for remote consultations on Zoom all semester. There are two ways to work with the Center:
Drop in Peer Tutoring. Tutoring begins on Sunday, September 13, and hours will be 3:00-10:00 PM on Sundays-Thursdays. No appointment is needed—just sign in through the website and you can usually see a tutor right away.
Appointments with the Director. You can book consultation appointments with John Holzwarth throughout the semester. Appointments are often available on short notice.
Course policy on disability accommodation. If you have a disability or learning difference that may impact your academic performance, you may request accommodations by submitting documentation to Student Support Services, located in Albany 206 (access@lclark.edu, 503-768-7156). They will notify me of the accommodations for which you are eligible.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Oscar Wilde: "It seems to me that with the development of the critical spirit we shall be able to realise, not merely our own lives, but the collective life of the race, and so to make ourselves absolutely modern, in the true meaning of the word modernity. For he [sic] to whom the present is the only thing that is present, knows nothing of the age in which he lives. To realise the nineteenth century, one must realise every century that has preceded it and that has contributed to its making. To know anything about oneself one must know all about others. There must be no mood with which one cannot sympathise, no dead mode of life that one cannot make alive."
Week 1
Monday, August 31:
Malcolm Gladwell's "Group Think" in the New Yorker.
Ethan Watters, "We Aren't the World", Pacific Standard.
Joseph Henrich, Steven J. Heine, and Ara Norenzayan, "The Weirdest People in the World?", Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Volume 33:2-3, June 2010, pages 61-83.
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, Minds Without Fear: Philosophy in the Indian Renaissance
Wednesday, September 2:
"Introduction", pages 3-6,
"The Tragedy of Indian Philosophy", pages 7-19,
"Looking Backward: Reason, Cosmopolitan Consciousness and the Emergence of Indian Modernity", pages 20-38.
Discussion of research.
Friday, September 4:
"The Company and the Crown: Macaulay's India?", pages 39-62.
"On the Very Idea of a Renaissance", pages 63-76.
Discussion of research.
Sign-up for an Assessment by Wednesday, September 9. Email me your preferred date (and specific article, if there are two for that date).
Week 2
Monday, September 7:
Labor Day.
Wednesday, September 9:
"Reform Movements: From Universality to Secularity in the Brahmo and Arya Samaj", pages 77-90.
"India Imagined: Contested Narratives of National Identity", pages 91-115.
Discussion of research.
Sign-up for Assessment.
Friday, September 11:
"Anticipating India's Future: Varieties of Nationalism", pages 116-154.
Discussion of (annotated) bibliography, reasons for citations, proper quoting (block or in-line).
Exercise for Monday: Find one book and one article that will be relevant to your Assessment. Provide one block quote from the book and one in-line quote from the article. List the book and the article in proper format for bibliography.
Week 3
Monday, September 14:
"Theorizing Swaraj: Politics and the Academy", pages 155-177.
Discussion of search procedures for articles and books.
Wednesday, September 16:
"The Cambridge Connection: Idealism, Modernity and the Circulation of Ideas", pages 178-216.
Discussion of search procedures for articles and books.
Friday, September 18:
"Māyā vs Līlā: From Śaṅkaracārya to Einstein", pages 217-246.
Exercise for Monday: In proper bibliographical format, list one additional article and one additional book that you found through the Arts & Humanities Citation Index or the Philosopher's Index that are relevant to your Assessment.
Week 4
Monday, September 21:
"The Question of Subjectivity: Neo-Vedānta in Academic Philosophy", pages 247-283.
Guests lecturers: Nalini Bhushan and Jay Garfield.
Wednesday, September 23:
"Indian Ways of Seeing: The Centrality of Aesthetics", pages 284-314.
"The Triumph of Indian Philosophy: Thinking through the Renaissance", pages 315-319.
Discussion on using the Arts & Humanities Citation Index and the Philosopher's Index.
Friday, September 25:
Christian Coseru. 2018. "Review of Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, Minds Without Fear: Philosophy in the Indian Renaissance". Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews. https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/minds-without-fear-philosophy-in-the-indian-renaissance/.
Prasanta S. Bandyopadhyay. 2019. "The Modernist Turn in Indian Philosophy". Sophia 58:1, pages 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-019-0726-5.
Vrinda Dalmiya. 2019. "Rethinking the Indian ‘Renaissance Modernity’: Comments on Nalini Bhusan and Jay Garfield’s Minds Without Fear". Sophia 58:1, pages 7-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-018-0703-4.
Brian A. Hatcher. 2019. "Intervening on the Indian Renaissance, or a User’s Guide to the Dreary Sands of Dead Habit". Sophia 58:1, pages 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-019-0722-9.
Saranindranath Tagore. 2019. "Comments on Bhushan & Garfield, Minds Without Fear". Sophia 58:1, pages 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-018-0702-5.
Anand Jayprakash Vaidya. 2019. "The Paradox of Egocentricity". Sophia 58:1, pages 25-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-018-0701-6.
Purushottama Bilimoria. 2019. "S. Radhakrishnan: ‘Saving the Appearances’ in East-West Academy". Sophia 58:1, pages 31-47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-018-0691-4.
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield. 2019. "Further Thoughts about Colonial Subjectivity: A Reply to our Critics". Sophia 58:1, pages 49-53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-019-0705-x.
Exercise for Monday:
Submit a 3-5 page Prospectus of your Argumentative Research Paper in which you:
(1) state your topic and, if possible, your thesis.
(2) describe the problem or issue to be treated.
(3) outline your anticipated procedure and probable conclusion.
(4) include an annotated bibliography of works to be consulted (a minimum of six books or articles, with a brief paragraph discussing the relevance of each work to your project).
Week 5
Monday, September 28:
Prospectus due.
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, editors, Indian Philosophy in English: From Renaissance to Independence
Wednesday, September 30:
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, "Introduction: Whose Voice? Whose Tongue? Philosophy in English in Colonial India", pages xiii-xxvii.
National Identity
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, Pandits and Professors: The Renaissance of Secular India, pages 3-19.
Discussion of annotated bibliography and reliability of sources.
Friday, October 2:
Rabindranath Tagore, "Nationalism in India" (1917), pages 21-36.
Discussion of annotated bibliography and reliability of source.
Week 6
Monday, October 5:
Aurobindo Ghosh, "The Renaissance in India" (1918), pages 37-65.
A.K. Coomaraswamy, "Indian Nationality" (1909), pages 67-73.
Discussion of note taking and perusing for content.
Wednesday, October 7:
Lajpat Rai, "Reform or Revival?" (1904), pages 75-84.
Assessment: Brian Ramirez.
Bhagavan Das, "The Meaning of Swaraj or Self-Government" (1921), pages 85-99.
K.C. Bhattacharyya, "Svaraj in Ideas" (1928), pages 101-111.
Discussion of note taking and perusing for content.
Aesthetics
Friday, October 9:
A.K. Coomaraswamy, "Art and Swadeshi" (1910), pages 115-120.
Aurobindo Ghosh, "The Future Poetry" (1917-1918), pages 121-150.
Discussion of note taking and perusing for content.
Week 7
Monday, October 12:
R. Tagore, "Pathway to Mukti" (1925), pages 151-164.
B.K. Sarkar, "View-Points in Aesthetics" (1922), pages 165-192.
Guest lecturer: Jay Garfield.
Wednesday, October 14:
K.C. Bhattacharyya, "The Concept of Rasa" (1930), pages 193-206.
M. Hiriyanna, "Indian Aesthetics 2" (1951), pages 207-218.
M. Hiriyanna, "Art Experience 2" (1951), pages 219-230.
Assessment: Devin Poleyumptewa.
Discussion of formulating a thesis: outlines, drafts, revisions.
Friday, October 16:
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, An Indian in Paris: Cosmopolitan Aesthetics in Colonial India, pages 231-242.
Vedānta
R.D. Ranade, "The Problem of Ultimate Reality in the Upanishads" (1926), pages 245-267.
Discussion of formulating a thesis: outlines, drafts, revisions.
Week 8
Monday, October 19:
Vivekananda, "Jñana Yoga" (1915), pages 269-295.
Discussion of articulating a thesis: arguments, objections, replies.
Wednesday, October 21:
Vivekananda, "Jñana Yoga" (1915), pages 297-322.
Discussion of articulating a thesis: arguments, objections, replies.
Friday, October 23:
A.C. Mukerji, "Absolute Consciousness" (1938), pages 323-352.
Assessment: Kat Altaffer.
Discussion of articulating a thesis: arguments, objections, replies.
Due on Monday: First Draft of your Argumentative Research Paper.
Week 9
Monday, October 26:
Due: First Draft of your Argumentative Research Paper.
Wednesday, October 28:
Ras Bihari Das, "The Falsity of the World" (1940), pages 353-362.
Friday, October 30:
S.S. Suryanarayana Sastri, "Advaita, Causality and Human Freedom" (1940), pages 363-391.
Week 10
Monday, November 2:
A.C. Mukerji, "Śaṅkara's Theory of Consciousness" (1937), pages 393-406.
Wednesday, November 4:
V.S. Iyer, "Śaṅkara's Philosophy" (1955), pages 407-423.
Friday, November 6:
P.T. Raju, "Skepticism and Its Place in Śaṅkara's Philosophy" (1937), pages 425-434.
Week 11
Monday, November 9:
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, Bringing Brahman Down to Earth: Līlāvāda in Colonial India, pages 435-452.
Wednesday, November 11:
Metaphysics and Epistemology
Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, The Plato of Allahabad: A.C. Mukerji's Contributions to Indian and to World Philosophy, pages 455-469.
Friday, November 13:
A.C. Mukerji, "The Realist's Conception of Idealism" (1927), pages 471-498.
Assessment: Anthony Kolshorn.
Due on Friday, November 20: Second Draft of your Argumentative Research Paper.
Week 12
Monday, November 16:
Hiralal Haldar, "Realistic Idealism" (1930), pages 499-514.
Wednesday, November 18:
K.C. Bhattacharyya, "The Concept of Philosophy" (1936), pages 515-533.
Assessment: Rachel Hartford.
Friday, November 20:
Due: Second Draft of your Argumentative Research Paper.
Week 13
Monday, November 23:
Thanksgiving Holiday.
Wednesday, November 25:
Thanksgiving Holiday.
Friday, November 27:
Thankgiving Holiday.
Week 14
Monday, November 30:
M. Hiriyanna, "The Problem of Truth" (1930), pages 535-551.
Wednesday, December 2:
G.R. Malkani, "Philosophical Truth" (1949), pages 553-582.
Friday, December 5:
A.C. Mukerji, "Traditional Epistemology" (1940), pages 583-590.
Symposium II of the Indian Philosphical
Congress Silver Jubiliee Commenoration:
"Has Aurobido Refuted Māyāvāda?"
(Amalner, 1950)
Week 15
Monday, December 7:
Indra Sen, N.A. Nikam, Haridas Chaudhuri, and G.R. Malkani, "Has Aurobindo Refuted Māyāvāda?" (Amalner, 1950), pages 593-629.
Wednesday, December 9:
A. Raghuramaraju. 2012. "Review of Nalini Bhushan and Jay L. Garfield, Indian Philosophy in English: From Renaissance to Independence". Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews. https://ndpr.nd.edu/news/dian-philosophy-in-english-from-renaissance-to-independence/.
Stephen Phillips. 2013. "Purposeful Play".
Philosophy East & West Volume 63(4): 647-655.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/pew.2013.0056.
M. Ram Murty. 2014. "Review of Indian Philosophy in English: From Renaissance to Independence". Essays in Philosophy 15:1, pages 184-191. http://dx.doi.org/10.7710/1526-0569.1498.
Friday, December 11:
Concluding discussion.
Week 16
Monday, December 14, 6:00 PM:
Due: Final Draft of your Argumentative Research Paper.
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J. M. Fritzman
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503-768-7477
Updated on 14 December 2020
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