HUM 231 - Human and Nature (Ancient and Early Medieval China)

This course examines the relationship between humans and nature in the political, intellectual, and social lives of ancient and early medieval China. It comprises four modules: ideologies and governance, knowledge, food and medicine, and residence and mobility. The first two modules address competing visions of harmony between humans and nature, seen as the foundation of good governance and rulership. The latter two modules explore how individuals embodied the ideal of unity between the cosmos and humanity in everyday life.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group I, Distribution Group II
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing
Instructional Method: Lecture-conference
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Repeatable for Credit: annually
Notes: First-year students in their second semester may register with instructor approval.
Website: https://www.reed.edu/humanities/hum231-232/
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Understand how arguments can be made, visions presented, or feelings or ideas conveyed through language or other modes of expression (symbols, movement, images, sounds, etc.).
Analyze and interpret texts, whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts.
Evaluate arguments made in or about texts (whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts).
Evaluate data and/or sources.
Analyze institutions, formations, languages, structures, or processes, whether social, political, religious, economic, cultural, intellectual or other.
Think in sophisticated ways about causation, social and/or historical change, human cognition, or the relationship between individuals and society, or engage with social, political, religious or economic theory in other areas.