PH800: PHILOSOPHY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
Lecturer: Xie Lian 谢怜
Fall 2020 Schedule: MWF 0900-1030, Puqi bldg
For Consultation: Xianle Hall, Room PH808
Site updated 20201006
Course Overview
⬤ Department of Philosophy Core Values
1. To educate the whole person in excellence and virtue.
2. To nurture every student, as they are, with dignity and respect.
3. To know and dedicate oneself to selfless service and the protection of all humankind.
⬤ Course Summary
From Aristotle to Zhuangzi, thinkers from across the ages have attempted to explain human experience, recommend ways on how to live, while searching for solutions to life's conundrums. Pushing students to find their own answers, this course will touch on problems of knowledge, personal identity, freedom vs determinism, and belongingness.
⬤ About the Lecturer
This class is taught by Professor Xie Lian, a renowned scholar in the fields of phenomenology, metaphysics, and moral ethics. Professor Xie returns to Tianguan University after a 4-year sabbatical, eager to teach the new generation of budding philosophers.
Tianguan University (TGU) is an elite research university with campuses located in every continent. Consistently ranked as one of the top academic institutions worldwide, TGU graduates often go on to be leaders in science, politics, business, and culture.
TGU consists of four major schools:
⬤ School of Economics and Business
⬤ School of Science and Engineering
⬤ Xueyu School of Humanities and Social Sciences
⬤ Wuyong School of Law
Each school boasts a robust and diverse faculty, including published academe and industry experts. Below are some of our distinguished staff and their accomplishments.
⬤ Xie Lian (PH800 Philosophy of the Human Person)
Age: 34 | TGU '08, M.A. '10
Thesis: 'On the Metaphysics of Paradise'
⬤ Feng Xin, M.D. (SHE10 Introduction to Sexual Health)
Age: 34 | TGU '08, Nan Yang School of Medicine '12
Policy consultant at Ministry of Health & Welfare
⬤ Mu Qing (CA500 Restaurant Entrepreneurship)
Age: 32 | TGU '10, Xuan Zhen Culinary Institute '12
Masterchef CN Producer, Gastronomy Asia Managing Editor
⬤ Shi Qingxuan (GS20.1 Special Topics)
Age: 26 | TGU '16
TGU LGBTQ+ spokesperson & charity founder, head of Gender Studies Graduate Association
⬤ Ming Yi (MAS124 Deep Sea Biology)
Age: 26 | TGU '16
f.a.q.
⬤ What is this?
This is a university AU, with characters based on the novel Tian Guan Ci Fu by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. It focuses on philosophy professor Xie Lian and future-boyfriend student Hua Cheng (nickname: San Lang).
⬤ What's the story?
Plot twitter moment - all story pages from oldest to newest
Extras twitter moment - reactions, sketches, etc
About TGU - setting & character info (no spoilers)
Timeline - summary of the story so far (spoilers)
⬤ Can I join the class/interact/reply/RP?
Yes! Tianguan University has a special year-round acceptance policy, so you can enroll in Professor Xie's class anytime. Before coming to class, please read the rules.
⬤ Are there content warnings?
As of 20201028: Mature language. Will add as the story progresses.
⬤ When will [insert name here] appear?
Where appropriate, other characters will gradually be introduced. Mod is honestly making this up as she goes along, so no promises! If they are professors, they will appear in About TGU.
Rules & Notes
⬤ ✅ RP replies, mentions, QRTs
Any and all RP interactions (as students or fellow faculty) are welcome. As long as it doesn't conflict with any major plot points, mod will try her best to reply.
⬤ ⛔ No reposting
Instead, share posts by linking to the tweet or tagging users in replies.
⬤ ⛔ No rude comments/messages
Let's enjoy the class and keep discourse civil and respectful.
⬤ Disclaimer
TL;DR Don't take the story/philosophy too seriously!
Mod is not a philosophy major, but took classes [redacted] years ago for uni. There are mistakes and personal interpretations aplenty, and concepts may be deliberately picked to fit the narrative.
Furthermore, due to personal limitations, only a tiny amount of Eastern philosophy will be featured, if at all. While the story is technically set in China, Chinese philosophical thought tends to be heavily woven into cultural and/or religious traditions which the mod, being non-Chinese, does not want to accidentally disrespect.
⬤ Got feedback? Contact the mod!
Replies/DMs are open at @devastationist. Note that this is the mod's art account, where Professor Xie is posted, among others. There is no separate RP account on any platform.
The Story so Far
PART 1 - DONE
⬤ Fall semester
⬤ Professor Xie begins the course by asking students to fill out index cards with their info–incredibly old-fashioned.
⬤ A tall, dark-haired youth with a loose braid in his hair, is the first to submit his card. The student identifies himself as San Lang.
⬤ San Lang's index card is entirely unreadable, so Xie Lian invites him to his office after lunch to fix it.
⬤ Xie Lian goes to lunch with fellow teachers, Feng Xin and Mu Qing, at Tiantian Cafe. The two bicker the entire time, but treat Xie Lian kindly.
⬤ It is revealed that Xie Lian has been on a 4-year forced sabbatical after an unknown incident, and had just returned to work today with endorsement from the university Chairman.
⬤ In those 4 years, Xie Lian did odd jobs due to the tough job market.
⬤ San Lang meets Xie Lian after lunch.
⬤ Worried about his eating schedule, Xie Lian offers San Lang a bun, who closes their hands over it in polite rejection.
⬤ They rewrite San Lang's index card, but get distracted with chatting.
⬤ San Lang explains his reason for enrolling in the class: "to learn more about the you in my mind." Xie Lian misunderstands.
PART 2 - DONE
⬤ 4 years ago
⬤ Plato's Cave. An allegory about escaping a restrictive cave to discover the world outside and pursue one's own truth.
⬤ Xie Lian calls student Lang Ying to his office, revealing that one of his papers appear to have been plagiarized.
⬤ Lang Ying is in despair, fearing losing his scholarship amongst a myriad of family troubles.
⬤ Xie Lian tries to consider his student's special situation, when an angry Lang Ying confronts him in front of the entire class.
⬤ Xie Lian turns to Chairman Bai Wuxiang for help.
⬤ Chairman Bai gives Xie Lian two options: to expel Lang Ying, or fire Dean Mei, who also did not follow proper procedure.
⬤ Unable to decide, Xie Lian bargains with his resignation, but is rejected.
⬤ Lang Ying is caught plagiarizing again, and is unceremoniously expelled. Xie Lian uses his savings to help pay back his scholarship.
⬤ Xie Lian leaves TGU on forced sabbatical for 4 years.
PART 3 - IN PROGRESS
⬤ Early winter
⬤ Xie Lian makes new friends with Professors Shi Qingxuan (Gender Studies) & Ming Yi (Marine Biology) at the cafeteria.
⬤ Shi Qingxuan invites Xie Lian to join "Blind Speed Dating," TGU's biggest matchmaking event.
⬤ Ming Yi leaves mid-conversation. Shi Qingxuan finds him in Qingxuan's office.