Readings In Sanskrit Systematic Thought

South Asia Department

Course Code:: 155901297
Status:: Course Not Running 2012/2013
Unit value:: 1
Year of study:: Year 3
Taught in:: Full Year

The aim of the course is to introduce students with some exposure to Sanskrit to the history, style, and methods of argumentation found in representative works of Sanskrit sastra (`systematic thought'). This will necessitate introducing the students to the intellectual history of Sanskrit, and classroom instruction will make reference to the historical context of production of the selected texts. The students will be assessed on their ability to complete extended pieces of course work (i.e. translation) and of their ability to critically engage with the course materials and relevant secondary scholarship through writing research essays.

Prerequisites

Basic and Intermediate Sanskrit (or equivalent, with instructor's permission).

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

By the end of the course, students will be able to critically assess existing translations and to work independently with similar texts.

Workload

A total of 22 weeks teaching with 2 hours classroom contact per week.

Method of assessment

One three hour written examination to be taken in May/June (60%); one essay of 2,500-3,000 words to be submitted on day 1, term 2 (20%); one essay of 2,500-3,000 words to be submitted on day 1, term 3 (20%).

SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

South Asia Department