Syllabus

• Week 1

  What is Korean Philosophy?

  • Is there such a thing as Korean Philosophy?

    Before we delve into Korean philosophy proper, let’s first think about what makes up a philosophy.

  • Western vs East Asian Philosophy

    The landscape of philosophy became increasingly global since the early 20th century, with non-Western thought gaining greater recognition over time. Let’s take a look at the differences between East Asian and Western philosophy.

  • Chinese vs Korean Philosophy within the East Asian Sphere

    For Korean philosophy to be truly Korean, it must be distinct from the philosophy of her neighbour, China. Let’s explore what elements of Korean philosophy make it unique.

  • Conclusion

    Let’s wrap up what we’ve learnt this week.

• Week 2

  How does Innovation occur at Cultural Boundaries?

  • Innovating on your Influences

    Cultural innovation occurs best when there is a conflict of cultures between two cultural groups. Let’s take a look at the ways external influences can manifest in incredible innovations.

  • Adapting from your Influences: Sungkyun, an Educational Ideal

    Here, we’ll look at a great example of Adaptive Innovation in Sungkyun, and how pre-modern Koreans absorbed an external influence to create something authentically Korean.

  • Disrupting Status Quo: Hangeul, the Korean Alphabet

    Here we’ll look at an example of Disruptive Innovation in Hangeul, and how existing concepts in East Asian thinking were applied in a novel way to a written language.

  • Conclusion

    Let’s wrap up what we’ve learnt this week.

• Week 3

  What are the Core Debates of Korean Philosophy?

  • Reconciling Reason and Emotion

    Though reason and emotion are often considered two separate concepts in Western thought, Korean philosophy sees things quite differently. Let’s explore how this dichotomy is reconciled.

  • The Four-Seven Debate in Korean Philosophy

    An incredibly important debate in Korean Philosophy, the Four-Seven Debate sparked intense debate on the reconciliation between our everyday feelings and the moral emotions that dictated our morality.

  • The Two Giants of Korean Philosophy

    Two thinkers, Toegye and Yulgok, rose to become the figureheads of Korean philosophy through the growth of the Four-Seven Debate. Let’s explore how they affected the course of Korean philosophy to come.

  • The Horak Debate in Korean Philosophy

    The Horak Debate was a fiery debate originating from the Yulgok school of thought, covering a wide range of topics. Let’s take a closer look.

  • Conclusion

    Let’s wrap up what we’ve learnt this week.

• Week 4

  How do you think through Korean Philosophy?

  • Korean Philosophy’s Unique Perspective on the World

    Korean philosophy contains a worldview that’s distinct from those from other cultures. Let’s connect the concepts discussed so far to the central worldview of Korean philosophy.

  • Chunking Yourself and the World Differently

    The unique worldview of Korean philosophy is inherent in the language, especially in the Korean word for ‘we’: “Uri”. Let’s see how the language establishes a dynamic relationship between the self and the world outside of it.

  • Moving Forwards

    Now that we’ve learnt the basics about Korean philosophy, here are some ideas on how to further explore this exciting field.

  • Conclusion

    Let’s wrap up what we’ve learnt through the course.

Who will you learn with?