Monthly Archives: May 2016

Van Norden Reviews McLeod, Theories of Truth in Chinese Philosophy

Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

2016.05.18 View this Review Online   View Other NDPR Reviews

Alexus McLeod, Theories of Truth in Chinese Philosophy: A Comparative Approach, Roman and Littlefield, 2016, 197pp., $39.95 (pbk), ISBN 9781783483457.

Reviewed by Bryan W. Van Norden, Vassar College

This book provides an overview of philosophical theories of truth and semantics in ancient China, using contemporary analytic philosophy of language as an interpretive framework. The discussion is limited to Chinese philosophy prior to the intellectual revolution caused by Buddhism. However, the period Alexus McLeod focuses on (551 BCE-220 CE) is philosophically rich. This book is accessible to mainstream philosophers, generally well argued, and plausible in most of its conclusions.

Continue reading →

CFP 20th meeting of the Southeast Early China Roundtable at Charleston — First call

From Piotr Gibas and Keith Knapp:

We are pleased to announce that The Citadel and the College of Charleston will host the 20th annual meeting of the Southeast Early China Roundtable in the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, from October 28th to October 30th.  Our keynote speaker will be Robin Yates of McGill University.

We welcome proposals for presentations dealing with pre-Song China from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including anthropology, archaeology, art history, history, literature,  philosophy, and religious studies. Please send a short abstract (250 words) of your proposed presentation and full institutional contact information to knappk@citadel.edu by September 1, 2016.  As per custom of the SEECR, the host universities will cover participants’ room and board.  Early submissions are welcome.

Is Analects 1.2 about family?

Here are some reasons to think that Youzi did not regard family as the root of humanity or of the Way.  (I used to think he did.)

Most of my argument focuses on defending a view held by Soothill, Leys, Chin, and maybe Lau and Slingerland: that by 弟 in Analects 1.2, Youzi meant elder-respect, a virtue commonly associated specifically with life outside the family.  It would follow that according to 1.2, only one of the two parts of the root of humanity is specifically a family virtue.  If 孝 and 弟 have something relevantly in common for Youzi, family isn’t it.

Continue reading →

New APA Newsletter on Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies

The latest APA Newsletter on Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies (15:2) is now available on-line here. (To save a click, you can also directly download it here.) Its table of contents is as follows:

From the Guest Editor, Amy Olberding

Submission Guidelines and Information

Articles

  • “Chinese Philosophy and Wider Philosophical Discourse: Including Chinese Philosophy in General Audience Philosophy Journals,” Amy Olberding
  • “Some Reflections on the Status of Chinese Philosophy in U.S. Graduate Programs,” David B. Wong
  • “What’s Missing in Philosophy Departments? Specialists in Chinese Philosophy,” Erin M. Cline
  • “May You Live in Interesting Times: The State of the Field in of Chinese Philosophy,” Alexus McLeod
  • “The ‘Double Bind’ on Specialists in Chinese Philosophy,” Yong Huang
  • “Problems and Prospects for the Study of Chinese Philosophy in the English-Speaking World,” Bryan W. Van Norden

2016 Beijing Roundtable on Contemporary Philosophy

From Bo Mou… (Updated May 18, 2016)

For your information and possible interest, the FYI description of the 2016 term “Beijing Roundtable on Contemporary Philosophy” workshop series is attached here. The theme topic for 2016 term of “Beijing Roundtable” workshop is “How constructive engagement of epistemological resources in classical Chinese philosophy and contemporary philosophy is possible” (15 July 2016, Beijing).

Continue reading →