Asian Studies 190 - Tao Reasoning
Class Information

CONTENTS:   Class Syllabus ,   Reading Assignments


Warren Z. Weinstein  --  Asian Studies Department  --  Office: MHB-910
  Email: wweinste@csulb.edu

Home Page:   http://www.csulb.edu/~wweinste

Office Hours:
M, W: 11:00 - 11:50;  Tu, Th: 12:30 - 1:20;   and by appt.
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Grading Rubric


ASIAN STUDIES 190 - TAO REASONING
CLASS SYLLABUS

SPRING  2010
Section
Meeting Times
Location
01
M, W, F: 10:00AM to 10:50AM
LA2-204

Texts:
Albrecht, Brain Power
Hoff, Tao of Pooh
Krishnamurti, Think On These Things
Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching, translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English

General:
This is a course about clear, critical and creative thinking.  We will explore both western and eastern concepts about the nature of reasoning, its methods, its principles, its common failings, its applications, and its limitations.  Special emphasis will be placed on the ways in which Taoist principles complement and enhance traditional western concepts of logic.

Objectives:
Students will be able to discuss, interpret and apply the concepts of Taoism and relate them to traditional western concepts of reasoning, analysis, and argumentation.  They will learn to think clearly, critically and creatively about a variety of subjects, both formal and informal, and to distinguish between valid and invalid reasoning.  They will be able to apply the various paradigms to the practical world of their everyday lives, and will be able to examine their own beliefs, and those of others, with both clarity and an openness to alternative views.

Grading:
There will be a short in-class exam worth 10% of the final grade, a two-day in-class midterm exam worth 30%, a practical application project worth 30%, and a cumulative two-hour final exam worth 30%.  The project will require the submission of two papers, a proposal/justification (1-2 pages) and a summary/analysis of results (6-8 pages).  Except for documented, serious and compelling reasons, no make-up exams will be given.  For students who have attended regularly, a grading curve will be applied at the end of the semester, with extra-credit awarded for active and effective classroom 

Attendance Policy:
Attendance at all meetings is mandatory Absences due to illness, death in the family, or participation in university-sponsored events may be excused if a student provides timely documentation.  Accumulation of three weeks of unexcused absences will result in a grade of “F”.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each meeting.  Late arrivals are responsible for checking in before leaving class that same day .  Failure to check in by the end of class will be considered an unexcused absence. 

Plagiarism/Cheating:  
Students should read the University policy on Cheating and Plagiarism in the CSULB Catalog.  Penalties for these offenses include "a failing final grade" and "possible probation, suspension, or expulsion."

Withdrawal:  
Standard University policies apply.  See CSULB Catalog.

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ASIAN STUDIES 190 - TAO REASONING
READING ASSIGNMENTS

Texts:
Albrecht, Brain Power
Hoff, Tao of Pooh
Krishnamurti, Think On These Things
Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching, translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English

Part I.   Analytical Phase:
Western and Eastern Ideas about Clear, Critical and Creative Thinking

Week 1:    Introduction:  What is reasoning?  How do you learn to think critically.  Social and cultural influences on thinking.  Analytical and synthetic approaches.  Exclusivity and complementarity. Yin and Yang. The Tao.
Albrecht: Why Many People Don't Think ClearlyHoff: How of Pooh?

Weeks 2-3:    Analyzing reasoning:   Basic concepts.  Propositions, arguments, deductive and inductive reasoning.  Cognitive functions, thinking skills, brain physiology, mental patterns, mental sets, adaptive thinking, detecting faulty reasoning.  Taoist concept of the Uncarved Block.
Albrecht: Learning to Think More Effectively;  Crap Detecting
Hoff: Tao of Who?;  Spelling Tuesday;
Instructor Handout: Section I

Week 4:    Thinking on your feet:   Presence of mind, developing options, trusting hunches, thinking under pressure.  Day science and night science.  Conscious and preconscious thought processes. Taoist concept of Inner Nature.
Albrecht: Thinking On Your FeetHoff: Cottleston Pie

Week 5:    SHORT EXAM:   LAST MEETING OF WEEK #5
How language influences reasoning:   Concepts of truth and validity.  Basic functions of language, and verbal maps.  Distinguishing matters of fact from matters of opinion (values).  Levels of abstraction, "cookie-cutter" effect of language, semantic fallacies.  How attitudes affect outcomes, situation awareness.  Taoist concept of Wu-Wei.
Albrecht: How Your Words Shape Your ThoughtsHoff: Pooh Way
Instructor Handout: Section II

Week 6:    Finding and facing facts:   Verifiability, maps and encoding, recognition, interpretation, expectation, intention, context, reality testing, listening, investigative attitude, eliminating snap reactions, changing your mind, being happy, appreciating yourself.
Albrecht: Finding Facts and Facing Facts;  Developing Mental Flexibility
Hoff: Busy Backson; That Sort of Bear

Week 7:    PROJECT PROPOSALS DUE:  FIRST MEETING OF WEEK #7
Problem Solving:  Personal styles,  roles of divergent and convergent thinking, discovering and stating problems, option finding, decision making, evaluating results.  Taoist concept of T'ai Hsü.
Albrecht: Solving Problems and Making Decisions;
Hoff: Nowhere and Nothing, Now of Pooh, Backward

Week 8:    MIDTERM EXAM,  Two Parts:  LAST TWO MEETINGS OF WEEK #8

Week 9:    Examining Fallacies:   Definition of fallacy.  Classification schemes for fallacies.  Fallacies of relevance, presumption and ambiguity.  Logical dodges, faulty premises (factual errors, misleading terms), faulty arguments (cause and effect, relevance).
Instructor Handout: Section III


 

Part II.    Synthetic Phase:
Practical Application of Concepts and Processes to Life Situations
In this section of the course, the concepts previously studied will be applied to the critical evaluation of the assigned texts, with special attention to the topics referenced below.  Each class meeting will consist of small-group discussions followed by evaluation of the group work by the entire class and the instructor.

Week 10:    Effects of fear, dependence and desire on the mind:
Lao Tsu: 1- 13;   Krishnamurti:  Chapters   1 - 4

Week 11:    Clarity of mind, creativity, principles of effective action:
Lao Tsu: 14 - 28;   Krishnamurti:  Chapters   5 - 8

Week 12:    Self-knowledge, conformity, social patterns:
Lao Tsu: 29 - 42;   Krishnamurti:  Chapters   9 - 12

Week 13:    Complementarity, conditioning, mechanical thinking:
Lao Tsu: 43 - 56;   Krishnamurti:  Chapters 13 - 16

Week 14:    Attention, knowledge, overcoming difficulties:
Lao Tsu: 57 - 70;   Krishnamurti:  Chapters 17 - 20

Week 15:    PROJECT RESULTS DUE:  FIRST MEETING OF WEEK # 15
Truth, simplicity, finding value in a world of facts:
Lao Tsu: 71 - 81;   Krishnamurti:  Chapters 21 - 22

FINAL EXAM:    SEE FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE


WEEKLEY CALENDAR,  S '10

Week 1

01/25 - 01/29

Week 2

02/01 - 02/05

Week 3

02/08 - 02/12

Week 4

02/15 - 02/19

Week 5

02/22 - 02/26

Week 6

03/01 - 03/05

Week 7

03/08 - 03/12

Week 8

03/15 - 03/19

Week 9

03/22 - 03/26

 Spring Break:      03/28 - 04/02

Week 10

04/03 - 04/09

Week 11

04/12 - 04/16

Week 12

04/19 - 04/23

Week 13

 04/26 - 04/30

Week 14

05/03 - 05/07

Week 15

05/10 - 05/14
























PROF. WEINSTEIN'S FURLOUGH DAYS, SPRING 2010
Friday, January 29
Tuesday, February 9
Monday, February 15
Wednesday, March 10
Friday, March 26 - Campus Closed
Thursday, April 15
Wednesday, April 21 - Campus Closed
Thursday, May 6 - Campus Closed
Friday, May 14


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