Virtual Kagan in China

A Yale website is reporting that Shelly Kagan, Professor of Philosophy at Yale University, is “the most popular foreign teacher” in China. Kagan’s online Open Yale course, “Death,” is apparently a great success. Quoting from the article:

“China National Radio in September noted: ‘Kagan lectures the students while sitting on the podium with legs crossed and wearing jeans and sneakers. His image, resembling that of an ‘immortal’ in Chinese mythology, has made him a ‘star’ closely followed by the youth in China. Ever since Kagan’s philosophy class ‘Death’ appeared on the internet through Open Yale Courses, many young people in China scramble for the lectures given by this unconventional professor who could have been considered ‘out of line’ according to the traditional Chinese standard of teaching style and manner.'”

Hat tip to Brian Leiter’s blog, where I first saw this.

Minimal versus Maximal Ritual

I have been thinking about ritual lately, and wanted to try out an idea on one and all. It seems to me that one way to read certain passages from classical Confucianism is as encouraging a maximal view of ritual (roughly, what I mean by this is that ritual exhausts the norms: ritual is all there is, all that matters. Ren is a name for ritual perfection). Think of Analects 12:1. On the other hand, there are passages that encourage a more minimalist view of ritual: something that anybody, or most anybody, can do; it is significant but hardly all that one should aim at. Analects 2:3 stands out for me here. The common people can be guided, and modestly transformed (coming to have a sense of shame), by ritual. This is not the stuff of sages or perfection. Continue reading →

CFP – Tenth East West Philosophers' Conference

Dear Colleague

Attached please find the Call for Papers for the Tenth East-West Philosophers’ Conference to be held May 16-24, 2011. As you will see, the theme anticipates the APEC Leaders Forum that will be held later next year, giving philosophers an opportunity to reflect upon the appropriate relationship between worth and what is worthwhile, between economics and human flourishing. We hope that you will consider joining us for what promises to be another historic event in a conference series that dates back to the 1930s and the beginnings of the comparative philosophy movement.

Yours

Roger T. Ames
Peter D. Hershock
Co-Directors

Download PDF Attachment: EastWest_CFP-9.13

[Deadline for the CFP is December 15, 2010.]

Nishan Forum and Rise of Chinese Culture

Last week I attended the first Nishan Forum on World Civilizations (尼山论坛). Nishan is the reputed birthplace of Confucius, near Qufu (in Shandong province) where the Kong family has lived for many generations. The Forum was an interesting event, heavily supported by various levels of government (notice the orchestra, playing pieces specially written for the event), and clearly designed to contribute to the increasing visibility of Confucianism, both domestically and internationally. There is a lot one could say about the event, both in terms of its content and in terms of the way it was framed (e.g., why was Robert Schuller chosen as the most prominent representative of Christianity at this “dialogue between Confucianism and Christianity”?). There is no simple conclusion, positive or negative, that one can draw from a complex event such as this, but I thought I would share some concerns that crystallized in my mind when thinking about a question that a journalist at the Forum asked me. He said, “Do you think Americans should be worried about the rise of Chinese culture?” Continue reading →

Last Minute Opportunity: Southeast Early China Roundtable

The annual meeting of the Southeast Early China Roundtable will be held on November 12-14 in Lexington, Kentucky, at the University of Kentucky.  This year’s keynote speaker will be Donald Harper of the University of Chicago.

There are still a few slots available for presenters.  One of the unusal aspects of this conference is that the host university covers the room and board of presenters.  You only have to pay for your travel expenses.  Given the theme of the group, your paper needs to be something about China before the 11th century.

The new deadline for submission of abstracts is Monday, September 20, at 4pm.

Continue reading →

A New Book Series: Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy

A New Book Series Published by Springer

Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy

Series Editor: Huang Yong

Purpose

While ‘‘philosophy’’ is a Western term, it is not something exclusively Western. In this increasingly global world, the importance of non-Western philosophy becomes more and more obvious. Among all the non-Western traditions, Chinese philosophy is certainly one of the richest. In a history of more than 2500 years, many extremely important classics, philosophers, and schools have been produced. As China is becoming an economical power today, it is only natural that more and more people become interested in learning about the cultural tradition, including the philosophical tradition, of China.

The Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy series aims to provide the most comprehensive and most updated introduction to various aspects of Chinese philosophy as well as philosophy heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy. Each volume in this series focuses on an individual school, text, or person.

Volumes Published or under Contract

The first volume in the series, Dao Companion to Neo-Confucian Philosophy, edited by John Makeham, has been published.

Other volumes under contract:

Continue reading →