JPNB38 Visiting Professor's Course

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Mgr. Marek Mikeš, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
Solid knowledge of English. A familiarity with Buddhism and/or general Asian history would be an asset.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The primary objective of the course will be to have students understand and critically engage with topics related to Buddhism and Politics, both in terms of the history across Asia and the developments arising out of modernity, including Engaged, Critical and Radical Buddhism. Specific themes will include classical Buddhist approaches to politics, monasticism as a form of political organization, Buddhism and monarchy, democracy, and socialism, and Buddhist approaches to economics, protest and revolution.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, a student will be able to:
– identify and summarize important features of the major periods in the history of Buddhist politics;
– identity and describe modern and contemporary trends in Buddhist politics;
– critically engage in debates surrounding Buddhist approaches to capitalism, democracy and socialism
Syllabus
  • – Classical Buddhist approaches to politics
  • – monasticism as political form
  • – Buddhist monarchism/Asoka the Great
  • – Buddhist Politics in India
  • – Buddhist Politics in Sri Lanka
  • – Buddhist Politics in Myanmar
  • – Buddhist Politics in Tibet
  • – Buddhist Politics in China
  • – Buddhist Politics in Japan
  • – Engaged Buddhism
  • – Critical Buddhism
  • – Radical Buddhism
Teaching methods
I will use a combination of lectures, videos and structured discussions. There will be daily reading a short writing assignments as homework.
Assessment methods
Requirements: attendance at all class sessions; completion of homework (reading and short writing assignments); final oral exam / exit interview.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught: in blocks.
Teacher's information
https://www.bucknell.edu/fac-staff/james-shields
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2024/JPNB38