CLAS 121R: World Wisdom Traditions
About This Course
This course presents an inquiry on Wisdom Traditions that emerged in antiquity and retain their influence and significance today. We examine diverse traditions from around the world, focusing on their guidance for how best to live, their direction on our responsibility and obligations to others, and their views on the ideal human-environmental connection.
In short, this course provides a broad and comparative inquiry on the “examined life.” Our exploration that draws on religion, philosophy, history, and other forms of cultural expression and understanding.
This course is offered by the Classical Studies Department at UC San Diego.
Credit: 4 units
What You Will Learn
In this course you will examine and compare multiple World Wisdom Traditions that developed in the ancient world, including those categorized as religions, such as Judaism, Buddhism, and Christianity, as well as philosophical schools, such as Platonism and Stoicism.
You will learn how these traditions continue to maintain their relevance and influence in the contemporary world.
Course Topics
- Relationship with the Environment
- Relationship with the Divine
- Relationship with Self and No Self
- Relationship with Self, Body, and Soul
- Relationship with Faith
- Finding Meaning beyond belief
Prerequisites
None. This course assumes no prior knowledge.
Course Meeting Details
Required Live Sessions: None.
The course content (video lectures, discussion prompts, readings, etc.) is delivered asynchronously.
The instructional staff will hold office hours by appointment.