Bachelor
2024/2025
Great Teachings of Asia in the Modern World
Type:
Elective course (Asian and African Studies)
Area of studies:
Asian and African Studies
Delivered by:
School of Asian Studies
When:
5 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors:
Alexander Dolin
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course is designed to familiarize students with the major trends in Comparative Cultural Studies, giving a broad panoramic view of the great spiritual teachings of Asia as projected on contemporary social and political reality. Problems of cultural anthropology, sociology, religion, politics, ethics and aesthetics are incorporated into the course, which allows students to develop a deeper understanding of history and culture as well as of the crucial issues of ideological struggle in the globalizing world. Special accent is placed on intercultural communication, clash of civilizations and major ideological conflicts of our time.
Learning Objectives
- Introduce students to the major achievements of comparative cultural studies
- Expand students’ worldview by giving an outline of vital problems of various cultures in the context of modernity
- Trace the patterns of intercultural communication, especially referring to the great teachings of Asia as projected on Japan and on the West
- Analyze ideological roots of political and social conflicts in the modern world
- Develop students’ analytical thinking and critical approach to the problems of intercultural conflicts and globalization
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Analyzes Confucianism as a Philosophy and the Ethical Guidelines
- Characterizes religions and their role in Indian Society
- Describes Concept of Social Harmony and Peaceful Administration in Confucianism
- Describes the legacy of Islam
- Describes the main concepts of Indian Philosophy and Life
- Describes what Zen Aesthetics is and its Role in Japanese Culture
- Explains basic concepts of the Mythology Studies
- Explains definitions and concepts of culture in the works by Western scholars
- Explains the basic concepts of Taoism
- Explains the meaning of Buddhist Doctrine
- Explains the place and role of the Chinese Culture in the World History
- Explains various approaches to the structure of myth
- Indicates Nationalist Trends in Politics and Languages
- To be in perfect command of principle information on the confessional and ethno-psychological specifications of major Asian and North-African countries, on the basic characteristics of the great Asian spiritual and philosophical doctrines, on the concepts of modern culture and civilization studies, religion studies and political studies.
- To comprehend, present and critically analyze information on the history, specific features and general characteristics of Asian civilizations; To use in practice theoretical concepts of cultural, religious and social studies including the preparation of analytical articles, reports and reviews of special research literature and media materials;
- To use in practice theoretical concepts of cultural, religious and social studies including the preparation of analytical articles, reports and reviews of special research literature and media materials;
- To comprehend in full diversity the ways of cultural evolution in the East and in the West;
- To be able to elaborate comprehensive characteristics of the specific social and political phenomena.
- To analyze the impact of traditional spiritual doctrines on the life of contemporary world community;
- To develop skills in cultural communication detecting specific spiritual, ethical and aesthetic values in the process of cultural communication; in the application of appropriate terminology for the definition of social, political and confessional differences; in the correct application of the scientific apparatus in the research of cultural and religious traditions on the basis of special scientific an cross-disciplinary research methods.
Course Contents
- Definitions and Concepts of Culture in the Works by Western Scholars
- Language and Society
- Myth and Culture
- The Legacy of Islam
- Religions in Indian Society
- Indian Philosophy and Life
- Major Monotheistic Religions
- Advent of Buddhism
- Chinese Culture in the World History
- Basic Concepts of Taoism
- Confucianism as a Philosophy and the Ethical Guidelines
- Concept of Social Harmony and Peaceful Administration in Confucianism
- Mahayana Buddhism
- Zen Aesthetics and its Role in Japanese Culture
Interim Assessment
- 2024/2025 2nd module0.25 * Attendance rate + 0.5 * The interim assessment and final grading + 0.25 * multiple choice
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Alex Mintz, & Dmitry (Dima) Adamsky. (2019). How Do Leaders Make Decisions? : Evidence From the East and West, Part A. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=2107620
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Entangled East and West cultural diplomacy and artistic interaction during the Cold War edited by Simo Mikkonen, Giles Scott-Smith, Jari Parkkinen. (2019). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.51225849X