Confucian Political Philosophy: Classical and Contemporary

Confucianism as an ancient tradition of thought has fundamentally shaped Chinese culture and deeply influenced East Asian societies for many centuries. Today, many people in China and around the globe still explore the contemporary relevance of Confucianism, and contemporary Confucian political philosophy is emerging as a vibrant field of thought. The first half of this seminar course critically discusses classical Confucian political thought and examines its strengths and weaknesses. The second half explores how contemporary Confucian political philosophy responds to modern Western political ideas and institutions.