This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast

Play seems to constitute an important part of a flourishing human life. Most of us experience play through things like simple childhood games of hide-and-go-seek or more intellectual activities like chess or go. What these experiences of play have in common is that they are circumscribed in various ways by the times, places, and circumstances established by the boundaries and rules of those games. But what if the attitudes that we bring to play were applied to our lives more broadly?  In this episode we explore the concept of play as a way of life. We explore it with Professor Pauline Lee (Saint Louis University), an expert in Chinese thought, focusing on the famous "gourd passage" from Chapter One of the Zhuangzi. Please check out Professor Pauline Lee's faculty profile and list of publications here.Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

The concept of wu-wei, often translated as nonaction or effortless action is central to classical Chinese philosophy. But what exactly is the idea and what are its practical implications? What puzzles does it raise regarding the nature of human actions, purpose, and intention? We examine these questions by focusing on some central passages from the Daodejing. Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

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.We are honored and delighted to be joined by Professor Bryan Van Norden, one of the world's leading scholars of Chinese philosophy and author of numerous highly influential books and articles. Please check out his work at bryanvannorden.com. Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

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. Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

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.Many thanks to The Hong Kong Ethics Lab for sponsoring this podcast series.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

Certain allegories and myths offer profound philosophical insights. In the West, Plato's Allegory of the Cave occupies a key role in the history of philosophy with its marvelous representation of the quest for knowledge and the distinction between illusion and reality. In the East, Zhuangzi's story of the butcher, "Cook Ding" has for over two millennia served as one of the most memorable and stunning illustrations of the Daoist conception of the Way. In this episode we are delighted to be joined by Professor Karyn Lai to discuss this remarkable passage from the Zhuangzi. In the course of the conversation we discuss a number of issues including: • What could it mean for the butcher's performance is "beyond technique"?• Is this really an example of "effortless action"? Specifically, is it really "effortless"?• When the ruler proclaims that he's learned from the butcher "how to care for life," is the author spoofing the ruler? We would also like to note that Professor Lai is the co-author of the Classical Chinese Philosophy section of Peter Adamson's excellent podcast, History of Philosophy Without Gaps. The link to it is here. You may also find more information about Professor Lai and her numerous publications here. Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

It seems clear that special relationships give rise to strong attachments and responsibilities that are at the heart of human lives. But it also seems that considerations of justice can require us to give equal consideration to a stranger. What do we do when there is a conflict between considerations of partiality and impartiality? In this episode we explore these questions with a special guest, Professor Tao Jiang who is a professor of religion and philosophy at Rutgers University and also the director of the Rutgers Center for Chinese Studies. We explore the themes of humaneness, justice and freedom that forms the core of his book, Origins of Moral-Political Philosophy in Early China (Oxford University Press, 2021). Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

In this episode we discuss Confucius's autobiography as found in Analects 2.4, one of the most famous passages in the Analects and a rich resource for reflection on the process of moral self-cultivation. Among the many topics we explore:  what Confucius meant by being "free of doubts" and "understanding Heaven's Mandate," and the relationship between practicing and understanding the Confucian Way. We discuss how traditional commentaries and commentators have interpreted some of the most interesting and disputed lines, and puzzle over the philosophical concept of 'wholeheartedness.' We primarily use Edward Slingerland's Hackett translation of the Analects for our conversation. For our next episode we will be inviting Tao JIANG as our guest to discuss partialism and impartialism in classical Chinese philosophy.Want to continue the discussion? Need links to some of the sources mentioned? Go to the support page for this episode on Warp, Weft, and Way.We thank Lena Li (LI La 李拉 ) for her expert editing and sound engineering. We also thank the blog Warp, Weft & Way for hosting the discussion for this episode.Co-hosts:Richard Kim's websiteJustin Tiwald's website

Exploring the concept of persuasion in Chinese philosophy through a dialogue between Confucius and Yan Hui. Topics include persuading those with differing views, the power of philosophical arguments, and the concept of 'fasting of the mind'. References to translations of the Zhuangzi and notable philosophers like Robert Nozick and Daryl Davis. Discusses the complexities of persuasion strategies, integrity, sincerity, and listening with the mind in Chinese philosophy.

Philip J. Ivanhoe, a distinguished scholar of East Asian philosophy, discusses the intriguing concept of Oneness in Neo-Confucianism, contrasting Eastern and Western perspectives. The conversation covers human behavior, cultural norms around anger, redefining virtue through oneness, and reflections on humans as the mind of the universe. Exploration of non-Western perspectives and translation challenges in Chinese philosophy adds depth to the engaging discussion.