Homework over the weekend--Prevent the empire from collapsing...

Over the weekend, you are to post on your blog how you would prevent the Han Empire from collapsing.  When and how would you intervene?  What problems were there and how would you solve them?

Once you have posted your solution, look at the blogs of the other people in your group and discuss their plan. Try to convince them that your solutions are the best, or affirm the decisions that they made. You can find everyone's blog at: http://www.protopage.com/twhittenburlington#Blog_posts/Class_Blogs

We will briefly discuss the collapse of the Han on Monday, and then we are off to India for more philosophies and fun...

Readings for September 18

For tonight, read pages 186-193 in the textbook.

We will be looking at Legalism and the Qin Dynasty tomorrow in class.  An example of Legalist thought is linked up here. Take a look and we'll discuss it a bit more if you have questions tomorrow.

Daoism...what the what?

For tonight, take a look at the selections from the Dao De Jing that were shared with you in class today and are linked up here.  Read #s 1, 2, 8, 11, 12 until you feel you understand them. If you understand them after only one reading, you are probably not doing it right. These are meant to be obscure, paradoxical and provocative. So read them a couple of times.

Once you think you get them, come up with one sentence that describes what Daoism is all about, and post it on your blog.