New Book: Beaney, The Joy of Chinese Philosophy

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Steve Angle

Michael Beaney has just published The Joy of Chinese Philosophy (De Gruyter, 2026); see here for full-text access. The publisher’s blurb:

This book introduces some central ideas and themes in ancient Chinese philosophy through a detailed analysis of one famous passage – the happy fish dialogue – in the Zhuangzi, one of the two founding texts of Daoism. The Zhuangzi is the most exhilarating and intellectually challenging of all the texts of ancient Chinese literature, and appreciating its spirit is as important as understanding its ideas. Methodologically, this book shows how we can approach Chinese philosophy analytically, an approach that is needed if Chinese philosophy is to be recognized in Western (analytic) philosophy today. At the same time, it seeks to broaden our conceptions and practices of analysis and our methods and styles of philosophizing in learning from Chinese philosophy. Throughout the book the emphasis is on engaging the reader in thinking through the issues for themselves.

Chinese Philosophy-relevant panels at 2025 AAR

Posted on November 22, 2025 by Steve Angle

Michael Ing assembled the following list of panels at the annual American Academy of Religion (AAR) meeting, currently underway…

Here are panels of interest at the AAR this weekend. The entire program can be found here: https://papers.aarweb.org/program-book/30613. Looking forward to seeing you.

Sunday, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Sheraton, Boston Common (Fifth Floor)
Session ID: A23-109
Hosted by: Confucian Traditions Unit
Theme: Beyond Boundaries: Confucianism and The Evolution of Chinese Utopian Thought

The concept of utopia has long captivated thinkers across cultures, including in China, where diverse utopian visions emerged within Confucian, Daoist, and Legalist traditions. Scholars often argue that while Confucian utopias emphasized hierarchy and morality, Daoist models championed harmony with nature, whereas Legalist visions sought strict governance. However, rigid classifications overlook the fluidity of Chinese utopian thought, as thinkers often blended elements from different traditions. This panel challenges traditional paradigms by exploring varied Chinese utopian visions. The first paper critiques the Legalist utopia of Shang Yang and Han Feizi, highlighting its dystopian consequences. The second examines the utopian poetry of Tao Yuanming, revealing its Confucian influences. The third analyzes contemporary Confucian philosopher Zhang Xianglong’s proposal for Special Districts for Confucian Culture, showing its fusion of Confucian, Daoist, and Western ideas. Together, these studies demonstrate the adaptability of Chinese utopian thought, transcending rigid intellectual boundaries to shape evolving ideals of society.

Continue reading →

CFP: The Philosophy of Generative AI: Perspectives from East and West

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Margery Fang

This special issue of Synthese invites contributions that explore the philosophical implications of generative AI and examine what philosophy can contribute to its development and understanding. Submissions that bring together Eastern and Western perspectives, fostering dialogue across traditions and intellectual borders are especially welcomed. Please read more for the submission guidelines and more information on the special issue. Continue reading →

Upcoming Collaborative Learning Project (四海为学 ) Event

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Tim Connolly

Dear Colleagues,

On November 21^st at 9:00am Beijing time the 四海为学 Collaborative Learning Project will host a presentation by Ronnie Littlejohn on “The Perfected Person in Chinese Thought.”

For details and the Zoom link please see our event page: https://www.sihaiweixue.org/ronnie-littlejohn-lecture

(Note that no pre-registration or passcode is required.)

For a list of upcoming events see our calendar here. Please feel free to advertise this or share it with anyone. All our events are free and open to everyone.

Sincerely,

Paul J. D’Ambrosio

Conference: Envisioning Futures: Decolonial and World Philosophical Approaches

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Margery Fang

The Department of Philosophy at The Chinese University of Hong Kong is hosting a hybrid conference titled “Envisioning Futures: Decolonial and World Philosophical Approaches” on 21-22 November 2025. Please find more information on the conference through this link.

Adamson on the lack of a word for “philosophy” outside of European contexts

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Justin Tiwald

Peter Adamson recently wrote on why he’s not troubled by the lack of a word for “philosophy” in Chinese and other non-European philosophical traditions. Adamson hosts History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps and co-hosts History of Philosophy in China with Karyn Lai. You can find the full essay here and the opening paragraph below the fold. Continue reading →

CFP: International Conference Ethics in Chinese Philosophy, HKUST

Posted on November 9, 2025 by Margery Fang

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Division of Humanities is organizing a conference titled “Ethics in Chinese Philosophy,” which will take place on March 20-21, 2026 (Friday and Saturday) at HKUST. Please read more to further information about the conference and the application guidelines. Continue reading →

New Book: Song, Debating Transcendence: Creatio ex nihilo and Sheng Sheng

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Margery Fang

Bin Song’s Debating Transcendence: Creatio ex nihilo and Sheng Sheng has recently been published through Fordham University Press. Please read more to find the description of the book, or scan the QR code on this flyer to access the press’s website and the full book. Additionally, there is a 25% discount code DEBATING25 for purchase of both digital and the physical copies. Continue reading →

Episode 27 of “This Is the Way”: Mohism—Two Arguments for Impartial Caring

Posted on November 3, 2025 by Justin Tiwald

This episode examines the Mohist doctrine of impartial caring (jian’ai 兼愛) via two arguments in the Mozi — the Caretaker Argument and the Filial Piety Argument. We examine the arguments’ logical structure, the psychological plausibility, and practical applicability. We also discuss the importance of reciprocity and competing interpretations of “impartial caring,” from the less demanding don’t-harm-anyone interpretation to stronger equal-concern readings, setting them against the Confucian model of care-with-distinctions (graded love). We also consider what genuine filiality requires and how different moral frameworks shape familial and social practices. Continue reading →

2026 Midwest Conference on Chinese Thought CFP

Posted on November 2, 2025 by Michael Ing

The Midwest Conference on Chinese Thought was created to foster dialogue and interaction between scholars and students working on Chinese thought across different disciplines and through a variety of approaches. We invite submissions on any aspect of Chinese thought, as well as comparative work that engages Chinese perspectives.

The 2026 conference will take place in person at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on April 3-4, 2026. Conference participants will be provided with two nights of hotel accommodations, all meals, and charter transportation from and to the IAD or BWI airports. (Participants who wish to use the charter service should contact the organizer in advance to coordinate travel plans).