Join us for a public lecture by Michael Beaney celebrating the publication of his new book, The Joy of Chinese Philosophy.
In this talk, Professor Beaney introduces some of the central ideas of ancient Chinese philosophy through a close reading of the famous “happy fish” dialogue from the Zhuangzi, one of the two foundational texts of Daoism. The Zhuangzi is among the most imaginative and intellectually challenging works of ancient Chinese literature and appreciating its playful and thought-provoking spirit is just as important as understanding its philosophical ideas.
Drawing on this celebrated passage, the lecture explores themes such as knowledge, perspective and understanding, while demonstrating how Chinese philosophy can be approached using analytical methods familiar in contemporary Western philosophy. At the same time, Professor Beaney will show how engagement with Chinese thought can broaden our own ways of analysing, questioning and practising philosophy.
Refreshments will be served before the lecture.
This event will be of interest to anyone curious about philosophy, Chinese thought, or new ways of engaging with classic texts.
- Hosted by
- Confucius Institute
- Venue
- The Sir Duncan Rice Library
- Contact
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Free, booking required on TicketSource
- Booking
- Online booking available