PHIL 272, Philosophies and Religions of China
Syllabus subject to change at discretion of instructor.
Instructor: Lisa Kemmerer, Lkemmerer@msubillings.edu (Please contact me via e-mail rather than telephone)
Office: LA 409, Website: http://www.msubillings.edu/CASFaculty/Kemmerer
Texts: Chinese Religion, Deborah Sommer, editor; Monkey, Arthur Waley, translator; Tales of the Taoist Immortals,
Eva Wong; The Great Compassion, Norm Phelps; and perhaps articles posted online on reserve.
Course Description: Through a critical and comparative lens, this course explores the philosophies and religions of
China (early schools of philosophy, Confucian, Daoist, and Chinese Buddhism), focusing on such topics as history
and change, philosophy, mythology, art, creation, ethics, founders, religious exemplars, and sacred writings, with an
eye to contemporary issues such as the treatment of women, attitudes toward nature, and the place of nonhuman
animals. Course invites students to ponder their sense of self and their own culture’s answer to enduring questions as
they explore the philosophical and spiritual world of China. If possible, visiting speakers will be included in the
schedule, requiring a measure of flex in the schedule. If you are unwilling to explore alternative religious
perspectives on controversial subjects such as abortion, animal rights, homosexuality, feminism, and the environment,
or if you cannot refrain from a defensive posture toward your faith when faced with other faiths, you are in the wrong
class. Students must be willing to examine controversial, minority, and divergent points of view.
Objectives:
 Through the lens of Chinese philosophy and religion, view and ponder our own beliefs, understandings, and behaviors in a
new light.
 Meet students from China to have a direct experience of philosophical similarities and differences across cultures.
 Become familiar with major philosophical figures from ancient China.
 Read and analyze ancient Chinese texts.
Books:
Main Text:
Each book is less than $1 online, unless indicated.
Other required books:
Books total:
GRADES
Attendance is required. Class participation informed by readings is encouraged. If you miss more than one week of
classes (three classes for MWF, two for TR—no need to offer any reason for your absence) your grade can be
affected as much as one full mark per week missed beyond the allowable limit. (E-mail me in an emergency—
not weeks after the fact.) If you are absent, please ask another student what we covered. I can’t review for one
student when I need to be teaching the next class. If you miss a day, simply do the assigned readings to stay current.
Mere attendance is not enough; be alert and attentive; do not wander in and out of the classroom. Come prepared to
stay for the duration of class. Leaving early, arriving late, and/or a lack of attentiveness or distracting behaviors
can contribute to absences and lower your grade half a mark. Ditto for napping and using electronic devices in
the classroom.
Quizzes are accumulative and are designed to assess whether or not you have completed readings. You must earn at
least 4/5 on any one quiz in order to earn one point for that quiz. There are no make-ups for quizzes. You can
take the quiz beforehand (not afterwards) if you ask well in advance, and if you continue to remind me beforehand
so that I prepare the quiz early. You must be in class on time to take quizzes, which are given at the start of class.
You are responsible to keep track of your quiz scores, which tell you where you stand in the class (though you can
also ask me to check scores after class—not before, please!). You must do assigned readings to do well in this
course. Don’t beg for amnesty—just do the reading. I do not decide your grade—you do (with your actions).
D and F range: Failure to achieve a C will earn a D or an F, based on attendance and quiz scores.
C RANGE GRADES: 1) Maintain attendance (see above) 2) AND earn at least 65% accumulatively on weekly
quizzes AND 3) complete a map correctly AND 4) visit the Dharma Center
To earn a B or an A requires incrementally more work (as in most classes).
Recommendation: If your quizzes are within 5% of a B grade, and you are willing to commit to doing better on your
quizzes, take a risk—do the work for a B—and commit to focusing more on your readings!
B RANGE GRADES: Succeed with all C work, AND earn 75% accumulatively on quizzes, AND 2) complete
the International Student assignment (instruction sheet on D2L) and an art assignment (ditto). (See me after the
first few weeks of class if terrified of presentations.)
A RANGE GRADES: 1) Succeed with all C and B work, AND 2) offer a 15 minute presentation on the subject of
your choice. Bring me your topic 3 weeks in advance; meet with me at least once, one week before presentation
day, with outline in hand. Bring 2 copies of your outline when you give your presentation. Sample topics:
endangered species, one child policy, History of Tibet/China relations. Whatever you choose, you must explore the
subject through the lens of Chinese philosophy. If you do not like this “A” assignment, please suggest your own.
Due finals week/Friday before Finals week.
Late Work: Due dates are posted on the Reading List. There is no late work. Plan ahead.
MARKS:
 Written assignments receive a plus, check, minus, or some combination therein.
 A minus means you have not successfully receive the grade toward which you were working. Most common reason for
a minus: Failure to follow each of the provided guidelines for a given assignment.
 I may allow failed work to be redone. I generally note on your paper if you need to resubmit (“redo”). If I am willing
to revisit your work (this depends on the initial quality of your work), your work must be resubmitted within one week
and must be returned with your original paper (and if it is a writing assignment, with a slip of paper indicating
that you received assistance from the writing lab). Without these, I will not accept resubmitted work. Generally,
only one redo is permitted for any one student.
Student Integrity—critical to earning the grade you strive for. Failing to do any of the following will lower your grade at
least one mark, or cause you to fail the course completely (for example, cheating of any kind, or not working independently).
Choosing to do a B or an A assignment does not guarantee that you will earn a B or an A. Work must be done with
integrity—thoughtfully, and according to instructions. Integrity includes (but is not limited to):
 Engage only in thoughtful, considerate, and respectful interactions.
 Attend class. Arrive on time. Be alert and attentive; do not wander in and out of classroom or use gadgets.
 Complete assignments; read with enough care to pass quizzes. If you don’t, accept the consequences gracefully.
 Work independently—do not copy, plagiarize, or work together on quizzes or assignments (without permission).
 Follow directions. For papers/outlines, see guidelines on website. Read directions before you begin, read them again
as you work, and once again as you complete your assignment to be sure you have done your work completely and
correctly. If you choose to do an assignment, follow directions and work with integrity, otherwise you will not receive
credit (this is no different than failing a test or a paper assignment in a conventional course).
OTHER DETAILS:
 Counseling: If you are struggling in any way, please contact Student Health Service in the SUB (657-2153), or after
hours: Billings Clinic Emergency Department (657-4150), Billings Clinic Hospital Emergency Room (2800 10th
Ave N) or Community Crisis Center (259-8800), 704 N 30th.
 Planned MSUB Absences Beyond Allowable Limits: Attendance is critical; those who miss more than one week
of class due to extracurricular activities will be expected to complete additional work or pass an exam to
demonstrate mastery of the material.
 To drop this course, do so before the deadline, through the registrar. I rarely grant late drops.
 Disabilities: Students with a disability seeking accommodations should contact Disability Support Services in the
Academic Support Center (657-2283).
Please remember that you are here to learn; learning is a worthwhile, enjoyable, and never-ending part of life.