Alexus McLeod – Columbia Society for Comparative Philosophy Lecture: “The Madman of Chu: The Problem of Mental Illness and Self-Cultivation in Early Chinese Texts”, Dec. 2 @ 5:30pm

THE COLUMBIA SOCIETY FOR COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY

Welcomes: ALEXUS MCLEOD (University of Connecticut)
With responses from: ANDREW MEYER (Brooklyn College, CUNY)

Please join us at Columbia University’s Religion Department on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd at 5:30PM for his lecture entitled:

“The Madman of Chu: The Problem of Mental Illness and Self-Cultivation in Early Chinese Texts”

ABSTRACT: In Confucian and Zhuangist texts of the Pre-Han and Han period, we see characters described as “crazy, mad” (狂 kuang), and find descriptions or discussions of madness or mad persons—most prominently the infamous Jieyu, “Madman of Chu”. I argue that madness is seen by Confucians and Zhuangists as a kind of moral deformity that moves one outside of the boundaries of ritual and society and thus full personhood—a fact that leads the Confucians to shun mad people, and the Zhuangist to praise them.  Madness is seen not as a 病 bing (disorder, illness), but instead as based on a cultivated choice.   Continue reading →

Angle at LaTrobe — Lecture

I will be speaking at LaTrobe University in Melbourne tomorrow; the topic is “Why Comparative Philosophy Matters.” Details:

Date: Wednesday 16th November 2016
Time: 4:00 – 6:00pm
Venue: Martin Building, Level 3, Room 369, La Trobe University
Cost: Free
Enquiries: csrc@latrobe.edu.au

In addition, I will be in Melbourne through Saturday, and if anyone wants to get together and talk Chinese philosophy, please send me an email!

CFP: SACP 49th Annual Conference at Peking University

Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy 49th Annual Conference, June 9-12, 2017

Peking University, Beijing, China

CONFERENCE THEME: The Paradigm and Values of Chinese Philosophy within a Global Context

Keynote Speaker: Carine Defoort, University of Leuven, KU Leuven.

Title of Keynote Presentation: “To Name or not to Name: The Power of Words in Early Chinese Philosophy”

Deadline for Abstracts and Proposals: Feb 10, 2017

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Suggestions needed for ‘harmony’ in Confucian thought

I’m seeking suggestions for scenarios, accounts or conversations where ‘harmony’ between self and elements of social/political life may be detected. I’m looking at texts associated with the Confucian tradition, including the histories, from Han and before. I am aware this is an interpretive matter and, at this stage, I’m keen to keep the casting net as wide as possible. One quick example that comes to mind is the Lunyu‘s 和而不同 or the Zuozhuan‘s soup (左传·昭公二十年). But there will be much more beyond quips like this. I’m also keen to look at accounts where terms like 和 (or ones that suggest it, e.g. 由 (A1.12) or 從 (A4.18)) are not present but where the idea of harmony – and its implications – emerges from the turn of events described in the passage.

Any ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Karyn Lai

Peng at Neo-Confucianism Seminar this Friday

The next session of the Columbia University Seminar on Neo-Confucian Studies (University Seminar #567) will convene Friday, November 11, 2016 from 3:30 to 5:30pm in the Heyman Center for the Humanities at Columbia University.

Peng Guoxiang of Zhejiang University will present the paper “Reading as a Spiritual and Bodily Exercise: The Religious Dimension of Zhu Xi.”  A copy of the paper is available from the organizers (see below).

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Angle lecture in Beijing Sunday 11/20

For anyone who’ll be in Beijing on the 20th, you are welcome to my lecture that evening, the title of which is “从进步儒学的角度看社会压迫 [Social Oppression as Viewed by Progressive Confucianism”].” Details follow. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

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