A Contemporary Reading Of Confucius In The Light Of The Yi Jing And Complexity Theory

A Contemporary Reading of Confucius in the Light of the Yi Jing and Complexity Theory

A Contemporary Reading of Confucius in the Light of the Yi Jing and Complexity Theory

Confucius was idolized, neglected, or disdained over centuries in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Japan, as well as in the West, but was revered by some great European thinkers in the Age of Enlightenment. There are only a few studies about how Confucius’ basic ideas can be integrated with Western rational thought. This new book situates Confucian ideas in complexity theory to demonstrate how East Asian rationality (based on the Yi Jing) and Western rationality based on Newtonian principles, can be integrated. This re-examination of Chinese civilization, especially the thoughts of Confucius in the light of complexity theory, is a unique contribution. Understanding Confucius and his implications for modern thought provides key insights into contemporary East Asian societies.

Feminist Encounters with Confucius

This work builds on earlier works, which defend Confucianism against charges of sexism and present interpretations of Confucianism compatible with Feminism, but contributors go beyond the much discussed care ethics, and common arguments of how ren (humaneness) can ground an egalitarian humanism that include gender equality. Besides ethics and political philosophy topics, this volume includes discussions in other philosophical areas such as epistemology, metaphysics, and applied philosophy. Through the encounter of Feminism and Confucius’s perspectives, each contributor generates novel answers to the questions addressed. In some cases, authors raise new questions about the chosen topic, inadequacies in how it has been addressed in previous Confucian or Feminist discourse, and/or challenges for either or both Confucianism and Feminism.