The upcoming hybrid workshop “Friendship in Chinese Thought: Theories, Issues, and Perspectives” will be held at Lanzhou University and virtually on zoom. This workshop will bring together scholars and students to explore the rich and multifaceted ways friendship has been theorized, debated, and applied within the Chinese intellectual tradition. Please read here for the full schedule of the workshop and to access the zoom link.
The workshop will feature a keynote lecture by Dr. Chenyang Li (Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), titled “Friendship as a Philosophical Problem for Confucianism: Two Case Studies.”
Organized by Dr. Mark Kevin Cabural (Lanzhou University, China) and Dr. Eunice Jianping Hu (Wake Forest University, USA), the workshop aims to foster direct engagement, meaningful dialogue, and friendly debate. The workshop will focus on three central dimensions of friendship in Chinese thought:
1. Theories – How Chinese thinkers have conceptualized friendship.
2. Issues – Key debates and challenges in framing friendship within Chinese contexts.
3. Perspectives – Comparative and contemporary reflections, situating Chinese insights within global discussions on friendship.
Sessions will be conducted in English, with both in-person and online participation available. Participants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are invited to join in Lanzhou or via Zoom virtually to reflect together on the philosophical significance of friendship and to contribute to a more inclusive global discourse.
