Category: Teaching

Courses Taught

On By Bin SongIn TeachingLeave a comment

Introduction to Philosophy (PHL 100 Washington College)

This course introduces the discipline of philosophy and its characteristic habits of thought and practice. Starting from the beginning of Western philosophy at ancient Greek, classical and contemporary readings are organized both chronically and thematically. Students will get familiar with major sub-disciplines and problems in philosophy such as metaphysics, ethics, logic, philosophy of science, hermeneutics, philosophy of religion, and political philosophy. Non-western philosophical traditions such as Ruism (Confucianism) and Buddhism will also be introduced in order to broaden conventional philosophical vistas. In general, the course is designed as reflecting philosophically and multi-culturally upon major divisions of human knowledge in modern university: religion, humanities, natural science, and social science.

History of Modern Philosophy (PHL 214 Washington College)

“History of Modern Philosophy” introduces major thinkers and schools of thought in the history of modern philosophy. Part I on “Enlightenment” investigates the major achievement, and the social and political background of modern philosophy. Part II on “Modern Scientific Revolution” introduces the scientific origin of the ideological transformations that define modern philosophy. Finally, Part III delves into the details of three representing modern philosophers’ thought: Descartes’ rationalism, Hume’s empiricism and the Kantian synthesis. Special acquired skills: students will learn how to make short videos to introduce their philosophical ideas to the public.

For a teaching documentary, please click here.

Ru and Confucianism (PHL/REL 394 Washington College)

This course introduces the philosophical concepts, sociological foundation, political implementation, and spiritual/religious practices of the Asian Ru (Confucian) tradition. While remaining sensitive to its varying characteristics through different historical periods, the course also presents Ruism’s development across Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia, and studies its historical interaction with Western cultures. Students are encouraged to think over and practice Ruist insights in a broader context of philosophical and religious studies, while being able to compare it with other major Asian and Western philosophical and religious traditions. Special acquired skills: students will learn Meditation in Motion in its varying forms, such as breathing, sleeping, quiet-sitting and Taiji martial arts, to strengthen their mind-body general well-being and increase creativity and productivity.

For a 2018 teaching documentary, please click here.

For a 2020 Spring teaching documentary, please click here.

Introduction to Comparative Religion: Eastern (PHL/REL 112 Washington College)

This introductory course of Eastern religions aims to increase religious literacy on the philosophical, societal, and practical aspects of four major Eastern religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism (Ruism), and Daoism. While focusing on the discussion of Eastern religions, historical and cultural distinctions of major Asian countries and areas, such as India, Nepal, Tibet, China, and Japan, will also be studied.

For a teaching documentary, please click here.

Foundations of Morality (PHL 225, Fall 2020, Washington College)

This course offers theoretical and applied ethics, leveraging both Western and Eastern moral philosophies to address challenges inherent in leading a virtuous and good human life. Students will explore moral philosophies including virtue ethics, deontology, utilitarianism, stoicism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Additionally, they will examine cognitive fallacies that can engender self-defeating emotional and behavioral patterns, such as perfectionism, damnation, bandwagon thinking, stereotyping, and lack of empathy. No prerequisites are required.

Global Wisdom and Literature (ENG/PHL/REL 294, 2022 Fall, Washington College, co-taught with Prof. Courtney Rydel from the English department.)

“Global Wisdom and Literature” (PHL/ENG 294, 2022 FALL) introduces and studies global wisdom traditions in an interdisciplinary endeavor of literary studies, philosophy, and religious studies. From the Mesopotamian mythology of Gilgamesh to the early modern Japanese Buddhist poetry of Matsuo Basho; from the rational self-defense of Socrates in the Apology to the passionate longing for the ineffable God mused by Sufis in Islamic mysticism; from the varying cities of the Roman Empire which signpost the Christian spiritual journey of Augustine in his Confessions to the downfall of the Confucian harmony of Tang Dynasty of China lamented by Du Fu’s Spring View, the great human tradition of global wisdom and literature will be explored to overcome the barriers of history, geography, ideology, genre, and academic disciplines. With the instruction and guidance of two WC professors (Prof. Courtney E. Rydel and Prof. Bin Song), students will be expected to acquire skills of intercultural and interdisciplinary competence which is pivotal to the real-world value of contemporary liberal arts education. This class counts for the distribution of Humanities and Fine Arts, the English major and minor, the Philosophy major and minor, the Religious Studies minor, the Humanities major, and the Medieval and Early Modern Studies minor. No Prerequisite.

Euro-Eccentrism: the Enlightenment and Confucianism (PHL/REL 494, 2023 Fall, Washington College)
This course explores the ways how Western philosophy during the Enlightenment period (17th and 18th centuries) was developed under the influence of Confucianism with a focus on the works of Spinoza, Nicolas Malbranche, Leibniz, Christian Wolff, Voltaire, and Benjamin Franklin. It aims to provide a deeper understanding of the intertwining of Western and Non-Western Philosophies in history, and how the exchange and influence of different cultures and philosophies shape the development of human thought. The course examines the interactions between Asia and the West through trade, missionary activity, and cultural exchange, and how Confucianism was understood and adapted by these key Enlightenment thinkers. The larger context of the course is to diversify the philosophy curriculum currently taught in American universities and colleges. Through primary and secondary sources analysis, contemplative and reflective activities, and research paper, students will gain a fuller and critical understanding of modern philosophy, particularly regarding its Euro-Eccentric dimension.

Buddhism: Philosophy, Meditation and Ritual (PHL/REL 294, 2024 Fall, Washington College, co-taught with Prof. Jon McCollum at the Music department)

This course offers an in-depth introduction of Buddhism’s origins, evolution, and manifestations across various cultures. Co-taught by Professors Bin Song (Philosophy and Religion) and Jon McCollum (Music), it delves into Buddhism’s journey from its Hindu roots to its development into Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions in both Asian and Western contexts. Covered topics include philosophical principles, meditative practices, and cultural expressions such as rituals and monasticism, examining their interaction with society and politics. Leveraging interdisciplinary expertise in philosophy, theology, religious studies, ritual studies, ethnography, and musicology, this course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Buddhism’s societal and personal impacts. It motivates students to explore practical and philosophical insights that enhance their intercultural competency, leadership skills, and overall well-being. No prerequisites are required.

Free Will and the Foundations of Responsibility (First Year Seminar, 2025 Fall, Washington College)

Are we free? What does it mean to have free will, and why does it matter? This First-Year Seminar explores the timeless philosophical problem of free will, a question that connects deeply to moral responsibility, legal accountability, self-development, and well-being. Students will examine key positions in contemporary philosophy, such as compatibilism and incompatibilism, as well as concepts like determinism and the theory of alternative possibilities. Through analyzing arguments and counterarguments, students will develop critical thinking skills to understand, evaluate, and imagine solutions to these enduring questions. The course also explores contributions from science—quantum mechanics, neuroscience, and social psychology—to see how empirical findings inform this ongoing debate. By the end of the course, students will formulate their own views on free will and learn how to apply these ideas to personal growth, academic challenges, and future careers.

Courses under Preparation:

  • History of Contemporary Philosophy (19th centuries onward)
  • Philosophy of Mind

Shared Teaching Experience:

Student Demonstrations in Philosophical Counseling

On By Bin SongIn Counseling, TeachingLeave a comment

Fall 2025 has been a remarkably fruitful teaching season. I taught a First-Year Seminar on “Free Will and Responsibility” for the first time, with fifteen excellent first-year students. I also co-taught “Introduction to Buddhism” for the second time, which surveyed Buddhist thought from ancient India through all major historical and modern branches across different countries, regions, and continents. Most importantly, I taught “Foundations of Morality” for the third time, enrolling nineteen students.

The first half of “Foundations of Morality” is theoretical, covering major Western ethical traditions, including Aristotelian virtue ethics, Stoicism, medieval Christian ethics, Kantian deontology, Mill’s utilitarianism, and existentialism, as well as foundational elements of Buddhist and Confucian (Ruist) ethics. The second half of the course is entirely practical. I used Dr. Elliot Cohen’s The New Rational Therapy: Thinking Your Way to Serenity, Success, and Profound Happiness (Jason Aronson, 2006) and the framework of Logic-Based Therapy (LBT)—a philosophically sophisticated form of cognitive behavioral therapy—to apply ethical theory to practical questions of the good life, such as how to address self-defeating emotions and behaviors.

Throughout the semester, I experimented with a variety of hands-on, in-class practices, including contemplative listening, silent quiet-sitting meditation, ethical case studies, assignments involving the creation of fictional “cults,” and simulated philosophical counseling sessions. The final project required students to develop their own case using anonymous, fictional, or publicly known figures, and then apply philosophical and religious resources to address the case by following the structured method of LBT.

I am proud of the students’ final projects, and several stand out as particularly strong examples:

Isabella M. Sorhegui analyzes the case of Nick Kyrgios, a well-known professional tennis player. Her careful and nuanced use of Buddhist resources is especially admirable.

John Colby Andrews takes up the video game Skull Kid, beginning with humorous and satirical critiques of moralistic teaching and later developing a thoughtful and well-supported engagement with Confucian wisdom.

Chase Corley analyzes the case of Kevin Love, a prominent NBA player. As a student-athlete himself, Chase demonstrates a strong sensitivity to the psychological dimensions of athletic life and shows real potential as a future coach.

Kayla Noyala approached the project with exceptional seriousness. She conducted an interview with an anonymous family member and offered well-grounded and thoughtful philosophical guidance.

Stefanos L. Georgiou wrote a fictional case centered on a student football player and delivered a very strong final presentation. He took seriously the feedback I offered on his two earlier case-study essays and worked diligently to revise both his thinking and his writing style. The final presentation is detailed, well-balanced, and something of which I am very proud:

Daniel Poitevin’s role-play project is particularly impressive. He alternated between the roles of therapist and counselee with clarity, insight, and philosophical depth.

At a broader level, I advocate an integrated approach to mental health and the good life. In areas of human life where free will and responsibility continue to play a meaningful role, philosophy—and the humanities more generally—can and should make substantial contributions to healthy living. However, when psychological conditions are rooted primarily in physiology and free will plays little or no role, the traditional doctor–patient medical model of mental health must still be employed. This integrated framework underlies my approach to philosophical counseling in this course. By teaching it within a public liberal arts classroom, and in a manner appropriate to that setting, I also aim to experiment with ways of teaching “self-cultivation” inspired by the Confucian (Ruist) tradition.

Patience in Interfaith Teaching 

On By Bin SongIn TeachingLeave a comment

The following essay reflects my Interfaith teaching experience at Washington College, published by the Interfaith America Magazine (https://www.interfaithamerica.org/article/patience-in-interfaith-teaching/)

Excerpt:

“…I define patience as a radical acceptance of obstacles or burdens we face on the path to any meaningful goal. Imperfection is an inevitable part of human experience. Recognizing this, especially when navigating challenges related to faith, has become invaluable in my teaching. Patience allows me — and my students — to embrace our differences and cultivate deeper, more meaningful cross-cultural and interfaith understanding. I’ve had three key teaching experiences that illustrate the profound impact of patience in the classroom …”