History Of Indian And Africana Philosophy

The Laozi (Daodejing) refers to the winds, the rain and the waters. We discuss how these ideas express the Laozi’s views on nature.

The first rule of dao is: don’t talk about dao. We do so nonetheless, focusing on its role in metaphysics and language.

What does “Daoism” refer to in a range of contexts, and how have excavated texts changed our understanding of the tensions between Daoism and Confucianism?

We conclude our series on Mohism with an interview that looks at the Mohists' dialectic and its relationship to their ethics. 

Later Mohists explained in the Canons how to provide compelling philosophical arguments, and how to avoid mistakes in argumentation. Does this count as “logic”?

What Mohist dialectics and Gongsun Long’s “White Horse Not Horse” argument tell us about the connection between language and knowledge.

Did Mozi tell people that ghosts exist and that we can change our fate because he thought these things are true, or because it would be beneficial for people to believe them?

An interview on the contrasting views of Mohists and Confucians on ethical duties and warfare.

How the Mohist principle of “inclusive care” leads to political order and (mostly) forbids the fighting of wars.

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?

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

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.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Morality is what makes us humans, for the Confucians. But does morality come from inside us, outside us, or both?