An experimental philosophy course this spring not only linked the great philosophers of Western and Eastern cultures, but crossed a 12½ hour time difference to join Duke students and faculty with those at City University of Hong Kong.
The philosophy course drew from Western sources (Plato, Aristotle, Seneca, Hobbes, Hume, Rousseau and Kant), Chinese and Korean philosophers (Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Xunzi, Zhuangzi, Han Feizi and Dasan) as well as Hindu, Buddhist and Jain thinkers. The discussions also incorporated contemporary scientific sources on human nature from anthropology, primatology and psychology.
Through seminars taught in real time on both continents, students explored universal human issues, multicultural interpretations, and the link between human nature, ethics and politics.
“As a student, I’ve come to realize that despite all the academic fields and cultures, castes, and creeds that divide us, we all have common projects that are better tackled through combined effort," said political science major Anand Raghuraman, who graduated in May. "As an aspiring diplomat, this is a lesson I will carry with me long into the future.”
The idea for Eastern and Western Conceptions of Human Nature, Ethics and Politics came out of a new partnership between Duke’s Center for Comparative Philosophy and the Center for East Asian and Comparative Philosophy at the City University of Hong Kong. Duke faculty member Owen Flanagan, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy, collaborated with City University political theorist Sungmoon Kim and P.J. Ivanhoe, who specializes in East Asian and comparative philosophy and religion.
“Western philosophy is only one source of philosophical reflection," Flanagan said. "Asia, Africa, the Middle East are other great sources. We need for our students to have exposure to the philosophical foundations of these cultures.”
Students learned from guest lecturers theologian/philosopher Erin Cline (Georgetown) and philosophers David Wong (Duke) and Emily McRae (University of Oklahoma). Duke students were also able to meet in person with both Ivanhoe and Kim who each traveled from Hong Kong to Duke.
“This course employed technology to extend the reach of our classrooms half-way around the world,” said Ivanhoe. “We intend to augment this virtual overseas experience with greater opportunities for students and faculty exchanges. Our aim is to further enhance the educational experience and global understanding of all members of the Duke and City University learning communities.”
The class was held in the Perkins Library LINK facility with a 10 a.m. start for the 18 Duke students and a 10:30 p.m. start in Hong Kong. Prior to each session, students posted a response paper on SAKAI focusing on a question or issue of interest from the pre-assigned reading. The instructors previewed their papers to better direct the discussion.
Course assistant Wenqing Zhao a visiting public policy PhD candidate from the City University of Hong Kong worked with the LINK staff to support the course and was responsible for the intricate “three-way” connections to engage guest lecturers from the other U.S. universities.
At the end, students and faculty celebrated having successfully navigated time differences and technology. “It is amazing how technology facilitates communication and sharing of knowledge among different groups of people," Zhao said. "I truly believe that this kind of course is going to become the trend in our time.”
With this successful proof of concept for cross-continental course interactions, the components are in place for creating similar classes across time zones. And in the process, Flanagan said he hopes they have helped to establish a model for future international collaborative classes at Duke.
This course was supported in part by an Office of the Dean in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Collaborative Teaching through Research Across Institutions grant.