Valmisa Dissertation Information

Mercedes Valmisa asked me to post the below information about her recently defended dissertation; congratulations, Mercedes! Her dissertation is available for download through ProQuest and Academia.edu, and anyone who is interested can also contact her to get a copy (regatular@gmail.com or mvalmisa@princeton.edu).

Changing Along with the World: Adaptive Agency in Early China
Mercedes Valmisa
Dissertation Adviser: Willard Peterson
Committee: Martin Kern, Melissa Lane, Franklin Perkins

Abstract

One of the major philosophical problems in Early China was the relationship between the person and the world, and in particular, how to act in relation to the world. This dissertation addresses the problem of agency in Early China, and pursues three main guiding questions: how to act efficaciously in different situations, how to cope with uncertainty and unpredictability in ordinary life, and how to achieve control and freedom.

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Dissertation Workshops on Comparative Political Theory

Shortly before the next American Political Science Association meeting in San Francisco, the organization will host dissertation workshops, one of which is devoted to students working in comparative political theory. The workshops group six ABD students together with two scholars. The deadline to apply is May 15. The workshops will take place on August 30, the day before the main APSA meeting commences. More information is here.

 

Another Recent Dissertation: Chai on Ontology and Cosmology in Zhuangzi

Here is anther recent dissertation in Chinese philosophy, posted with permission. David has already published articles on Ji Kang and on Xuanxue, and will be presenting papers at the Eastern and Central APAs on topics ranging from “Ziqi and Yan Hui on Forgetting” to “Heidegger’s Lichtung in Light of Daoism” to “Being and the Abyss: Heidegger’s Leap into Daoist Nothingness.” 

Title: Nothingness, Being, and Dao: Ontology and Cosmology in the Zhuangzi
Author: David Chai (david.chai@utoronto.ca)
Defended: February 2012
Institution: University of Toronto, Canada (Dept. of East Asian Studies)
Supervisor: Vincent Shen

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