You will be required to write one of these essays on your own time and submit it to Carmen by the
due date, which will be announced on Carmen. Good papers will likely be 1.5 to 3 pages long. They
must be double-spaced, 12-point Times or Times New Roman font, with 1” margins on all four sides.
1. What is the Confucian ideal for individual and political life? How do we become the kind of
people who live well? What does a good ruler look like and what role do laws play in good
government? Is this a good way to think about societal structure? Why or why not?
2. What is the Dao and what are the principles of Ying and Yang? How does an understanding
of these concepts lead us to live according to the principle of wuwei? What does the ideal
Daoist political state look like? What do you find attractive or unattractive about this view?
3. Explain how Zen calls us to live in the present moment. How does this relate to the ancient
Buddhist idea of anatman? What are the principles of Not-Two and Not-One, especially in
the context of the I vs Other distinction? Do you find this to be a useful set of suggestions?
Why or why not?
4. Ibn al’Arabi appears to defend a form of Sufism that is panentheistic. What does he say
about the relationship between human actions and experiences, and the Divine Being? How
does this insight shape al’Arabi’s views about marriage and hell? Briefly describe one thing
that you find attractive about the Sufi tradition and one thing you find problematic.