THE COLUMBIA SOCIETY FOR COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY
Welcomes: JOSEPH CHAN (University of Hong Kong)
With responses from: WARREN FRISINA (Hofstra University)
Please join us on Friday, April 18 at 5:30PM for his lecture entitled:
“Confucianism and Democracy: Uneasy Marriage or Productive Partnership?”
Abstract: Since the very beginning, Confucianism has been troubled by a serious gap between its political ideals and the reality of societal circumstances. Contemporary Confucians must develop a viable method of governance that can retain the spirit of the Confucian ideal while tackling problems arising from modern situations. The best way to meet this challenge, Joseph Chan argues, is to adopt liberal democratic institutions that are shaped by the Confucian conception of the good rather than the liberal conception of the right. Chan decouples liberal democratic institutions from their popular liberal philosophical foundations and redefines their roles and functions using Confucian principles, thus mixing Confucianism with liberal democratic institutions in a way that strengthens both.
Chan’s presentation is based on his new book entitled Confucian Perfectionism: A Political Philosophy for Modern Times(Princeton University Press, 2014).
Friday, April 18, 5:30-7:30 pm
Rm. 101, 80 Claremont Ave, Columbia University http://goo.gl/maps/zfUKH
PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: http://www.cbs.columbia.edu/cscp/
Co-Chairs
Johnathan Gold
Assistant Professor, Princeton University, Department of Religion
Hagop Sarkissian
Assistant Professor, The City University of New York, Baruch College, Department of Philosophy
Rapporteur
Daniel M. del Nido
This sounds extremely interesting. It’s a pity I can’t make it to things all the way back in New York!