Jin Reviews Li, Confucian Comparative Political Philosophy

Yong Li, Confucian Comparative Political Philosophy, Routledge, 128pp., $200.00 (hbk) ISBN 9781032671871.

Reviewed by Yutang Jin, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Hong Kong

In philosophical works, it is difficult to combine bold innovation with intellectual humility. The reason is straightforward—to show creativity, an author is tempted to grandstand about their originality. I consider Yong Li’s Confucian Comparative Political Philosophy one of the rare cases where the author successfully combines each of these two virtues without sacrificing the other. This book is a recent intervention in contemporary Confucian political theory, an increasingly important field that connects the Confucian intellectual tradition and cultural practices to normative questions in political theory. Written with exceptional analytical rigor and high accessibility, this book can serve as an ideal reference…

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Episode 31 of “This Is the Way”: The Great Music Debate — Mohists vs. Classical Confucians

Is music an extravagance in a world of scarcity or a necessary expression of our humanity? We explore Mozi’s consequentialist condemnation of elaborate musical performances and Xunzi’s argument that music, proper guided, plays a critical role in taming unruly emotions and building social bonds. Beneath the disagreement lies a profound clash over basic human goods, how emotion should be shaped, and whether the arts are dispensable or essential to human flourishing. Continue reading

Live audience recording of “This Is the Way” in Santa Clara: February 12, 2026

Ep0 欢迎收听道可道,中国哲学播客Richard Kim and Justin Tiwald will be recording another podcast episode with a live audience on the evening of February 12, 2026, on the campus of Santa Clara University (SCU) in California, USA. Their guest will be SCU’s Meilin Chinn, and the topic will be the philosophy of music in the thought of Ji Kang 嵇康 (a.k.a. Xi Kang, 224-263 CE).

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Summer School in Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice has been collaborating with Princeton University for their Summer School in Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese/Kanbun. It offers two tracks of comprehensive, grammar-focused instruction taught by faculty members from both Ca’ Foscari and Princeton. The program is designed especially for students who wish to develop their linguistic expertise for graduate study in any discipline of premodern China or Japan. Students can choose between two tracks: each track offers language classes in addition to a lecture series on topics in premodern Chinese or Japanese culture (history, literature, thought). Both tracks welcome students who are beginners in Classical Chinese or Japanese, as well as those who already have some background foundation. Please visit the website for further information on the program and application process. The deadline for applications is March 15, 2026, at 12:00 CET.

Summer Seminar in Asian Philosophy and Scholasticism, 2026

The Hong Kong Baptist University’s Department of Religion and Philosophy is hosting its ATI Summer Seminar in Asian Philosophy and Scholasticism, “Mind in Neo-Confucianism and European Scholasticism,” from 18-27 June 2026 at Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Rome, Italy. Please visit the HKBU website for further information on the seminar and application guidelines. Continue reading