Fudan English-based MA program in Chinese philosophy

Dear friends,

Thanks to your support, since it was launched in 2011, the MA and Visiting programs in Chinese philosophy (with courses taught in English) at Fudan have been extremely successful. Despite the pandemic that seriously affected the enrollment, 142 students have been enrolled in either the M.A. program (112 students) and the visiting student program (30 students). They are from 41 countries, with student from North America and Europe forming the majority of the student body, and many of them are top students in their classes, majoring in philosophy, classics, and/or East Asian or Chinese studies. The above facts make these programs simply the most successful of their kind (English-based post-graduate programs in Chinese philosophy) in mainland China.

The program boasts perhaps the largest community of English-speaking postgraduate students interested in Chinese philosophy in the world, a community our students have enjoyed greatly.  The comprehensiveness and specialization of our curriculum in Chinese philosophy are unmatched by other programs.  We have also assigned tutors to our students, helping them read classical Chinese texts, in addition to the normal language classes.  Because of the number and the quality of our students, our programs are a “favorite” of the university administration.  As a result, we have been EXTREMELY successful at securing fellowships for students applying for the MA program.  (For the visiting student program, only partial fellowships are available through Fudan, but students can apply through some external channels, like the Chinese Scholarship Council, the EU, Chinese consulates, Confucius Institutes, etc. Indeed, for students already in a doctoral program, they can take a look at this website for applying for a full fellowship to cover their stay in China: http://www.chinese.cn/page/#/pcpage/csp as well as this website (this is for last year’s applications through Fudan, but the requirements should be roughly the same):   https://www.ci.fudan.edu.cn/d1/2b/c38778a643371/page.htm )

To continue its success, I ask you to help us to distribute the information about the programs and encourage your students to apply.  If they are already in a doctoral program and wish to spend a year in China, they are also welcome. You can also directly go to the following website for more detailed information: https://iso.fudan.edu.cn/isoenglish/7b/da/c16952a752602/page.htm
NB: the priority (scholarship) application’s deadline is much earlier than usual: Dec. 12.

Thank you, and be safe and well!

Happy Holidays!

Tongdong

New Book: Beaney, The Joy of Chinese Philosophy

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

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

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

Dear Colleagues,
On November 21st 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

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

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

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

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

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 →