At the beginnings of Western philosophy, the dividing lines to ‘Eastern’ thought were blurry. Before the Logos became the dominant concept for organizing knowledge toward wisdom (as in ‘philo-sophia’), the question of what the sources of that wisdom were, was highly contested. The seminar will take place on Fridays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. US Central Time, starting April 04, 2025.
In this seminar, we will trace, via the terms of the philosophy of orientation, how what we call ‘Western philosophy’ was step by step created by distinguishing itself from perceived ‘Eastern traditions’ and their myths and rituals. To do so, we will focus on the depictions of the gods Śiva and Dionysus, their receptions in ancient Greek theater from Aristophanes to Euripides, as well as Plato’s engagement with mythos and logos.
Our teachers will be Professor Tuhin Bhattacharjee and Dr. Alessandra Filannino Indelicato. The seminar is discussion-based; this means that participants are expected to read the assigned passages before the sessions. The seminar is free, but seats may be limited.
Applications are due by March 28, 2024; to apply, and for more information, click here!