Bell Reviews Bruya and Li, trans., Dialogues of Confucius

A review by Daniel Bell of Brian Bruya and Wenwen Li, trans., Dialogues of Confucius: The Complete Text (Princeton, 2026) has been published in the Times Literary Supplement. An excerpt:

…A magnificent new translation by Brian Bruya and Wenwen Li introduces this treasure of intellectual history to the anglophone world. We now know much more about Confucius the person, and about the context for some of the puzzling quotes in the Analects. Best of all, we learn new arguments that push the boundaries of the rich and complex Confucian tradition in new directions….

Episode 33 of “This Is the Way”: Carrots, Sticks, and Rituals

What’s the best way to fight corruption: harsh laws and fear of punishment, or rituals and moral transformation? In this episode we discuss a deep disagreement that takes its inspiration from the political philosophies of the Confucian philosopher Xunzi and the Legalist philosopher Han Feizi. We are also happily joined by Professor Daniel Bell of the University of Hong Kong, one of the world’s leading experts in Chinese political thought. Bell reimagines the views of Xunzi and Han Feizi in his book Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters: Four Dialogues on Chinese Past, Present, and Future. There he stages he stages the debate as a dialogue between a modern-day Professor Xun and his student Han Fei, set against the backdrop of the recent anti-corruption campaign in the People’s Republic of China. The conversation ranges from the psychology of rewards and punishments to meritocracy, institutional design, the question of whether good governance can ever be decoupled from good character, and whether Confucians might be the true realists after all. Continue reading →

Kalmanson Reviews Song, Debating Transcendence

Bin Song, Debating Transcendence: Creatio ex nihilo and Sheng Sheng, Fordham University Press, 2026, 336pp., $40.00 (pbk) ISBN 9781531512095.

Reviewed by Leah Kalmanson, University of North Texas

Bin Song enters longstanding debates over the status of transcendence as a concept in Chinese thought with a book that offers clarity, nuance, and a compelling theoretical intervention. In facing the question of whether Chinese thought has a concept of transcendence, voices on opposing sides often claim the same underlying commitment. Those who answer “yes” are often aligning themselves against Eurocentrism, that is, against the idea that European thought has privileged access to certain philosophical or religious insights. Yet those who answer “no” are also often aligning themselves against Eurocentrism. That is, they are making the point that we should…

Continue reading on ndpr.nd.edu

Workshop at Duke: Varieties of Harmony in Greek and Chinese Philosophy

The workshop, “Varieties of Harmony in Greek and Chinese Philosophy,” will take place at Duke University on April 16–17, 2026. Click here for event details, here to register for in-person attendance, and here for virtual attendance via Zoom. It is an interdisciplinary workshop that brings together scholars of ancient Greek philosophy and early Chinese philosophy to explore different conceptions of interpersonal harmony, including family relationships, friendship, civic cooperation, ethical cultivation, and social/political relations. The event aims to foster comparative dialogue across traditions and to highlight both convergences and important differences in how interpersonal harmony is understood and cultivated. The workshop is organized by Wenjin Liu and David Wong.

Korean Philosophy Course Resources

The Korean philosophy educational content developed by the K-Academic Expansion Project might be of interest of the readers as a resource that could contribute to broader conversations in East Asian and comparative philosophy, as well as to related teaching and public-facing educational efforts. Please read more to see a message from the project’s Senior Researcher Eun Young Kim and gain access to the resources. Continue reading →