China, Confucius: Philosophy in the Quest for Peace

April 2, 2024 – 7pm EST

Presenter: Hanyue Zhang (Elaine), Beijing Runzeyuan Education Technology Company

Producer: Marcus Breen

China has a long history of philosophy that aspires to peace. Chinese philosophical traditions are deeply embedded in Chinese culture which, it is clear, is different to the US and the West. As a non-theistic approach to life that embeds peace as a value in everyday life and politics, Confucius (551-479 BCE) and the philosophy associated with him has many strands that advocate for peaceful exploration of knowledge to advance human relations. As such it is an extraordinary body of knowledge. For example, Chinese daoism is defined as the substance of human experience that encourages an exploration of the conditions under which meaning and social practices are examined. Leigh Jenco in her book Changing Referents, says this is one view within a range of opinions about new interpretations of Confucian philosophy. The point is that the principles of Chinese philosophy have been brought into public discussion in China, as a way of advancing values that are traditionally connected to China’s history of peace and international cooperation. In this webinar, aspects of daoism will be explored through the lens of the philosopher, Wang Yangming (1472-1529). The presenter, Hanyue Zhang is a US-trained educator, working in the tradition of Chinese philosophical sages.