Eastern and Western Thought Section KB

VHS Catalog 12-13

Course Title:	Eastern and Western Thought Section KB
Course Code:	eaweouac
MA NCES Code:	04065
Discipline:	Social Studies
Grade Level:	10, 11, 12
Level:	Honors
Offering:	Fall Only (Fall: 25 Seats; )
Duration:	15 weeks
Prerequisites:	None
Additional Requirements:
Accredited by:	Certified by NCAA for initial-eligibility (VHS School Code: 221356); Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools; Northwest Accreditation Commission
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Shipped to Students: No
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Purchased by Course Sponsor (see additional details below): No
Description: Students will examine great thinkers of the East and the West, from ancient to modern times. Students will read selections from works such as the Bhagavad Gita and the I Ching as well as read excerpts by philosophers such as Buddha, Lao-Tse, Muhammed, Gandhi, Socrates, Locke, Rousseau, deBeauvoir, and Marx. All reading will be "on-line." Students will also use the Internet for discussion and course work, including research and other activities. A key theme of the course will be to examine the similarities and differences between Eastern and Western thinkers. Students will conclude the course with individual research and preparation of a project about a "thinker" of their choice.

MediaKit Contents:

Syllabus:
Week 1: Personal profiles and beliefs.
Week 2: Ethics.
Week 3: Ancient India and Hinduism: the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita
Weeks 4 and 5: Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism
Week 6: Voices of Islam: Muhammed and Kabir
Week 7: Mohandas Gandhi
Week 8: Project Preview
Weeks 9 and 10: What makes an ideal government?
(Socrates; Plato; Machiavelli; Locke; Hobbes; Rousseau)
Weeks 11 and 12: Issues of Human Limitations.
(Marx; Nietzsche; de Beauvoir; Mao)
Weeks 13, 14, 15: Thinkers Who Shaped the Twentieth Century: Project Production Evaluation and Feedback

Course Objectives:
1. To examine great thinkers of the East and the West, noting both similarities and differences between these Eastern and Western thinkers;
2. To acquire a common core of knowledge in philosophy, a core which will allow students to better understand the world in which they live;
3. To address basic questions, such as: what does humankind believe? what defines the ethical life? and to be able to discuss these questions in a classroom environment;
4. To examine, analyze, and interpret primary and secondary sources;
5. To increase ability and confidence in the use of technology;
6. To practice clear, coherent writing skills;
7. To develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and research skills; and
8. To become responsible, efficient, and self-motivated learners.

This catalog description was last modified on 11/27/2012