China Studies Research Centre, La Trobe University
2:30-4:00pm Friday 24 August
Room 318, Education 2 (ED2), La Trobe University
*This seminar will be presented in Chinese*
Confucius (BC. 551 – BC. 479) and Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) were both concerned about humanity and the relationship between humans and nature. Moreover, both pursued the goal of understanding life through an introspective approach. Whereas Thoreau is a deist and transcendentalist, however, Confucius’ view of mind and nature can be characterized by the idea of “returning the whole world to benevolence” (天下归仁). Despite this difference, in this presentation I will argue that they shared much in common: the mutuality between nature (heaven) and humans (天人相感); the emphasis on human subjectivity; care for living creatures, ahimsa; simplicity of lifestyle; cultivation of virtue; the pursuit of learning; justice and human rights; as well as opposition to instrumentalist and hedonistic views.
About the Speaker
Zhonggang Tang Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Huaqiao University of China, and a visiting scholar of the China Studies Research Centre, La Trobe University. His research focus is modern New Confucianism.