Episode 28 of “This Is the Way”: Mencius Against Mohist Impartialism

In this episode, we continue our exploration of Mohist impartial caring (jian’ai 兼愛) by examining two of Mencius’s most influential objections: (1) the “Without a Father” Argument (Mencius 3B9) and (2) the “Two Roots” Argument (Mencius 3A5).

Along the way, we take up some important questions: Should moral values be impartial even between family members and total strangers? Is radical impartiality incompatible with being human? And should ethics be grounded in (rational) doctrine or in human nature? Continue reading →

New Article: Beaney and Lai, Towards a deep epistemology

The article Towards a deep epistemology: knowing in historical and cross-cultural context by Michael Beaney and Karyn Lai has been published recently as the lead article in the special issue Knowing in Historical and Cross-Cultural Context of British Journal for the History of Philosophy. This article makes the case for a deep epistemology, an epistemology rooted in the epistemic experiences and philosophical debates from across the full range of historical periods and global cultures, with fine-grained sensitivity to the actual linguistic terms and constructions used in expressing them.

To access the article for further reading, please visit this site.

 

四海为学 Collaborative Learning Project events next week

 Dear Colleagues,
Next week the 四海为学 Collaborative Learning Project will host four separate events:
  1. December 2nd at 9:00am Beijing time: Book Discussion of Robert Carleo’s Humane Liberality. 
    For details and the Zoom link please see our event page: https://www.sihaiweixue.org/robert-carleo-book-discussion
  2. December 2nd at 20:00 Beijing time: Roundtable on “Identity Trouble” 
    For details and the Zoom link please see our event page: https://www.sihaiweixue.org/identity-roundtable
  3. December 5th at 9:00am Beijing time: Roundtable on “Korean Women Confucians in the History of Philosophy” 
    For details and the Zoom link please see our event page: https://www.sihaiweixue.org/korean-women-confucians

  4. December 5th at 19:00 Beijing time: Roundtable on “Argument in Early China” 
    For details and the Zoom link please see our event page: https://www.sihaiweixue.org/argument-roundtable
Note that no pre-registration or passcode is required for any 四海为学 events.
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

ACPA On-line Celebratory Roundtable

A message from the current leadership of the ACPA:

The Association of Chinese Philosophers in North America (ACPA) warmly invites you to an online celebratory roundtable marking the 30th anniversary of the association’s founding.
Theme: Honoring the Beginnings: Reflections on the Present State of Engagement with Chinese Philosophy in Anglo-America
Date: Friday, December 5th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST
Roundtable participants: Li Chenyang, Huang Yong, JeeLoo Liu, Ni Peimin, Robin Wang

Zoom link: https://sfu.zoom.us/j/84044319399#success

Instead of formal talks, this anniversary event will take the shape of an open, lively conversation. Our speakers will reflect together on their experiences with the ACPA and on the evolving status of Chinese philosophy in Anglo-America, responding to one another in an informal, spontaneous, and organic exchange. Audience members are warmly invited to join the discussion, ask questions, and share their perspectives throughout the session.

Whether you are an ACPA member, a former board member, have participated in ACPA panels over the years, or are a young scholar interested in the current state of Chinese philosophy in North America, we encourage you to join this meaningful celebration and be part of this conversation about the impact and future of the ACPA in our field.

Summer School: Models of Dialectical Thought in Chinese and Asian Philosophy

The Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana cordially invites PhD students and post-doctoral researchers to a summer school course “Models of Dialectical Thought in Chinese and Asian Philosophy.” The course will be held September 4–7, 2026. Please find more description of the summer school and application procedures through the University of Ljubljana’s website.

Conference: Utopias and Their Pursuit: A Comparative Study of the East and West

Major religions and spiritual traditions articulate their own visions of utopia, and these ideals have shaped the political and social foundations of their respective civilizations. The conference Utopias and Their Pursuit: A Comparative Study of the East and West seeks to explore utopian ideals and their practical manifestations by bringing Chinese and Western thought and historical experience into dialogue. Topics include philosophical and theological accounts and critiques of utopia; policies and historical events inspired by utopian visions; and the ways utopian ideas continue to influence contemporary global discourse. Please see the conference’s full program here. The online registration link can be accessed through scanning the QR codes in these two posters.