History of Philosophy: India, Africana, China

HPC 26. Culture Wars: Mohist and Confucian Debates

Disagreements between the Mohists and the Confucians: is seeking benefits the right way to approach life? What motivates us to act morally, care for our loved ones or a doctrine of impartiality?

HPC 25. Benefit, Then Stop: Mohism and Impartial Care

How did the Mohists establish their consequentialist ethic of “impartial care (jian ’ai)”? Was this theory ultimately grounded in the will of Heaven?

HPC 24. Measuring Up: Mohist philosophy

An introduction to the Mozi, the founding text of an anti-elitist school of thought that tests social and political practices by the measure of “benefit.”

HPC 23. Amy Olberding on Confucian Ethics

In our final episode on classical Confucianism, our interview guest tells us about the surprising moral depth of the concept of "etiquette"

HPC 22. Inside Job: Women in Confucianism

Can classical Confucianism be redeemed from its reputation for rigidly hierarchical thinking when it comes to the relationship between men and women?

HPC 21. Sor-Hoon Tan on Confucian Democracy

Can classical Confucian ideas be adapted to produce a theory of democracy fit for today's world?

HPC 20. Heaven Can Wait: Ritual and Religion in Confucianism

Were Confucian ideas about Heaven, ritual, and fate driven by a religious attitude, or a naturalistic one?

HPC 19. The Kingly Way: Confucian Political Philosophy

Mengzi and Xunzi show that a Confucian political theory need not be idealistic.

HPC 18. Erica Brindley on Music and the Cosmos in Confucianism

An interview about the "resonant cosmos" in early Confucianism, and the role played by music in linking sages to the universe.

HPC 17. Knowing Me, Knowing You: Confucian Epistemology

The role of knowing in Confucian ethics: should it be understood as “knowing how,” or even “knowing to,” rather than “knowing that”?