How do we become good? What is the process by which we acquire the virtues? We examine these question by focusing on some key concepts in Mencius’s account of moral development such as reflection and extension. This discussion also centers on Mengzi 1A7 and the famous “king and the ox” passage that has been the subject of much conversation and debate. Continue reading →
四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” Roundtable on Learning and Education
This Friday, September 13th, at 19:00 Beijing time the 四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” Project will host the first roundtable of 2024-2025 academic year. The title of this roundtable is “Reflecting on Learning and Education,” for details, including the Zoom, link please see our event page: https://www.sihaiweixue.org/learning-roundtable (Note that no pre-registration or passcode is required.)
For a list of upcoming events see the calendar here.
Fall 四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” Free Seminars
This academic year the 四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” project will be hosting 2-3 events each month. Please visit their event calendar for details.
The program is also hosting three seminars this fall, seminars are free courses that are open to anyone interested:
1. Dao and Logos: Reading the Laozi with/against Heraclitus
Led by: Dimitra Amarantidou (University of Macau) and Fabian Heubel (Academia Sinica) This course will meet on Mondays at 19:00 Beijing time. There will eight classes, starting in October 21 and ending December 9th.
2. Early Chinese Philosophy of Education
Led by: Geir Sigurðsson (University of Iceland) and Paul J. D’Ambrosio (East China Normal University)This class will meet on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm Beijing time, and starts September 24th
3. The Political Laozi
Led by: Paul J. D’Ambrosio (East China Normal University), Dimitra Amarantidou (University of Macau), and John Lombardini (College of William and Mary)This class will meet on Tuesdays at 7:45 pm Beijing time. It will begin on September 24th.
For more details and links to any of these seminars please visit: https://www.
Book Discussion: Wong, Moral Relativism and Pluralism
The 四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” Project will be starting off the new academic year with a book discussion of David Wong’s Moral Relativism and Pluralism. The discussion will start at 20:00 on September 6th, Beijing time. For more details and the Zoom link please visit the event page.
Note: Zoom does not always adjust the date and time correctly, please ignore what the link says and follow our scheduled time. No pre-registration or passcode is required. Everyone in the waiting room will be let in promptly when the event begins.
For more information on the 四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” Project visit the website, and for list of our upcoming events please see the calendar.
ToC: Asian Studies 12:3
The newest issue of Asian Studies just recently came out through The University of Ljubljana. Please read more to find the table of contents. Additionally, you can also see the full issue through this link. Continue reading →
CFP: 2nd Carolina Conference on Chinese Thought
The Carolina Conference on Chinese Thought (CCCT) invites scholars and graduate students to discuss their work on Chinese thought, drawing from any disciplinary perspective. Presentations focusing on research, pedagogy, and other engagements with Chinese thought are welcome. Works-in-progress are especially encouraged, with the CCCT being a collegial atmosphere for collaboration. All things otherwise equal, proposals from scholars and graduate students based in the Carolinas and the U.S. Southeast region will be given preference for selection. Please read on for details!
Episode 9 of “This Is the Way”: Moral Sprouts
What is the nature and source of morality? Are human beings naturally inclined toward moral goodness? The early Confucian thinker Mencius (Mengzi) believed that human beings by nature possessed certain moral sprouts that could be nurtured and developed into robust virtues. In this episode we explore Mencius’s account of these moral sprouts, examining both philosophical and psychological justifications for their existence. Continue reading →
New Book: Li, The Self in the West and East Asia
Jin Li’s new book, The Self in the West and East Asia: Being or Becoming, is now available from Polity (see here). In this book, Li synthesizes philosophy with psychological research to examine how the self is conceptualized and functions in two distinct cultural systems. Please read on for more information.
Post-doctoral fellowship at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Philosophy and Religion Program in the Division of Humanities at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology invites expressions of interest for the RGC Junior Research Fellow Scheme (JRFS). The scheme provides funding to cover up to 36 months full-time post-doctoral fellowship. The starting date of the fellowship is usually 1 July 2025 the earliest, 31 January 2026 the latest, and is negotiable.
The annual stipend is around HK$420,000 (inclusive of travel allowance at around HK$13,300).
Research Interests: Chinese Philosophy, Buddhism, Comparative/Intercultural Philosophy
Please read below for details regarding the application.
Continue reading →
Episode 8 of “This Is the Way”: The Golden Rule
Across different religious and moral traditions we often find some version of the Golden Rule. In this episode we explore the Golden Rule as formulated in the Analects and explore questions such as how fundamental it is to the Confucian ethical framework, how it is supposed to work in actual practice, and how it connects with issues about self-centeredness. We also examine how it might apply differently to ordinary people and sages, focusing on Analects 15.24 and Analects 6.30. Continue reading →
