- Vassar College 310 / 124 Raymond Ave / Poughkeepsie, NY 12604-0310 (USA)
- 845-437-5538
Bryan W Van Norden
Vassar College, Philosophy, Faculty Member
- Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Studies, Chinese Language and Culture, Classical Chinese Intellectual History, Confucius, Confucius Analects, and 12 moreConfucianism, Confucian Philosophy, Confucian Ethics, Neo-Confucianism, Neo-Confucian Philosophy, Daoism, Daoist Philosophy, Buddhism, Buddhist Philosophy, Zen Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, and Roger T. Amesedit
- Bryan W. Van Norden is a Professor in the Philosophy Department and in the Department of Chinese & Japanese at Vassar College (USA).edit
1. Introduction 2. Kongzi and Ruism 3. Mozi and early Mohism 4. Mengzi 5. Pluralistic Ruism.
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... its pattern of development to maturity, its characteristics and activities when mature, and theenvironmental conditions that ... term employment of reciprocal altruism is facilitated by dispositions such as honesty, loyalty, and... more
... its pattern of development to maturity, its characteristics and activities when mature, and theenvironmental conditions that ... term employment of reciprocal altruism is facilitated by dispositions such as honesty, loyalty, and benevolence. ... (2) Bryan W. Van Norden, "Virtue Ethics and ...
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This new edition offers expanded selections from the works of Kongzi (Confucius), Mengzi (Mencius), Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), and Xunzi (Hsun Tzu); two new works, the dialogues Robber Zhi and White Horse; a concise general introduction;... more
This new edition offers expanded selections from the works of Kongzi (Confucius), Mengzi (Mencius), Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), and Xunzi (Hsun Tzu); two new works, the dialogues Robber Zhi and White Horse; a concise general introduction; brief introductions to, and ...
Research Interests: Philosophy and Chinese
This new edition offers expanded selections from the works of Kongzi (Confucius), Mengzi (Mencius), Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), and Xunzi (Hsun Tzu); two new works, the dialogues Robber Zhi and White Horse; a concise general introduction;... more
This new edition offers expanded selections from the works of Kongzi (Confucius), Mengzi (Mencius), Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), and Xunzi (Hsun Tzu); two new works, the dialogues Robber Zhi and White Horse; a concise general introduction; brief introductions to, and ...
Research Interests: Philosophy and Chinese
早在2500年前，庄子就反对正常是好差别是坏的观点。(Chinese language translation by Prof Wu Wanwei of Altmann and Van Norden, "Was This Ancient Taoist the First Philosopher of Disability?)
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The Daoist Zhuangzi argues against a Confucian conception of “normality” that, like Aristotelianism, is teleological: A higher power, Heaven, decrees what “human nature” is, and human nature determines all the normative facts, such as how... more
The Daoist Zhuangzi argues against a Confucian conception of “normality” that, like Aristotelianism, is teleological: A higher power, Heaven, decrees what “human nature” is, and human nature determines all the normative facts, such as how many limbs a human should have, standards of physical beauty, tastes in food and music, and morality. This view implies that to be “different” is to be defective. However, Zhuangzi pushed back against the idea that “normal” is good and difference is bad, including when it comes to what we would call "disabilities" today.
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This article reviews Professor Sungmoon Kim’s outstanding and well-received book, Public Reason Confucianism. I shall begin by contextualizing Professor Kim’s book, then discuss what is distinctive about his approach, and conclude with a... more
This article reviews Professor Sungmoon Kim’s outstanding and well-received book, Public Reason Confucianism. I shall begin by contextualizing Professor Kim’s book, then discuss what is distinctive about his approach, and conclude with a few potential queries that
might prompt further discussion.
might prompt further discussion.
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آيا میتوانيم با تکتک انسانها دقيقاً همانطوری رفتار کنيم که با فرزند يا مادرمان رفتار میکنيم؟ کسانی که در فلسفۀ اخلاق معتقدند انسان بايد همگان را به يک چشم بنگرد٬ گويا چنين انتظاری از ما دارند. اما منگزی٬ حکيم باستانی چين٬ که از پيروان... more
آيا میتوانيم با تکتک انسانها دقيقاً همانطوری رفتار کنيم که با فرزند يا مادرمان رفتار میکنيم؟ کسانی که در فلسفۀ اخلاق معتقدند انسان بايد همگان را به يک چشم بنگرد٬ گويا چنين انتظاری از ما دارند. اما منگزی٬ حکيم باستانی چين٬ که از پيروان کنفوسيوس بود٬ معتقد بود مردم نمیتوانند چنين قانونهای دشواری را رعايت کنند٬ چرا که اساساً جوانههای رفتار اخلاقی در د ِل محبت به اعضای خانواده و خويشاوندان میرويد.
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According to Western philosophy, there are three types of ethical theories: consequentialism, rule deontology, and virtue ethics. Which of these categories does Confucian ethics belong to? This essays provides a discussion of this topic.... more
According to Western philosophy, there are three types of ethical theories: consequentialism, rule deontology, and virtue ethics. Which of these categories does Confucian ethics belong to? This essays provides a discussion of this topic. The essay is divided into two parts: Why does Confucian ethical thought belong to neither the category of consequentialism nor the category of rule deontology? What similarities and differences do the ethical systems of Kongzi (Confucius) and Mengzi (Mencius) have with Western virtue ethics?
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Stohr’s book On Manners argues persuasively that rules of etiquette, though conventional, play an essential moral role, because they “serve as vehicles through which we express important moral values like respect and consideration for the... more
Stohr’s book On Manners argues persuasively that rules of etiquette, though conventional, play an essential moral role, because they “serve as vehicles through which we express important moral values like respect and consideration for the needs, ideas, and opinions of others” (Stohr 2012: 3–4). Stohr frequently invokes Kantian concepts and principles in order to make her point. In Part 2 of this essay, I shall argue that the significance of etiquette is better understood using a virtue ethics framework, like that of Confucianism, rather than the language of Kantianism. Within the Chinese tradition, Daoists have frequently been critics of Confucian ritualism. Consequently, in Part 3, I shall consider some possible Daoist critiques of Stohr’s work.
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In this letter to the Proceedings and Addresses of the APA, I argue that contemporary dissertation supervisors are often failing to educate and train their own students.
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Mainstream philosophers in the US are generally ignorant of and even hostile to the study of Chinese philosophy. This essay examines the sources of this Eurocentric chauvinism, and discusses possible routes to making academic philosophy... more
Mainstream philosophers in the US are generally ignorant of and even hostile to the study of Chinese philosophy. This essay examines the sources of this Eurocentric chauvinism, and discusses possible routes to making academic philosophy in the US more open to Chinese philosophy.
(This essay is forthcoming in the APA Newsletter on the Status of Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies.)
(This essay is forthcoming in the APA Newsletter on the Status of Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies.)
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Chris Fraser has written a comprehensive and well-researched work on Mohist philos- ophy. Those who are not already familiar with Mohist thought will find Fraser’s overview of the primary texts and review of previous research very useful.... more
Chris Fraser has written a comprehensive and well-researched work on Mohist philos- ophy. Those who are not already familiar with Mohist thought will find Fraser’s overview of the primary texts and review of previous research very useful. For example, many interpreters assert that the Mohist state of nature argument to justify government authority is like that of Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) in assuming that humans are innately self-interested. In contrast, Fraser follows those like FUNG Yu-lan (FENG Youlan 馮友蘭), who argue that, for the Mohists, conflict in the state of nature is driven by disagreement over values, not over conflicts of self-interested desires (86–87; compare Fung, History of Chinese Philosophy, trans. Derk Bodde [Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1952], vol. 1, 101). Fraser also makes a couple of original contribu- tions. He presents a novel account of the assumptions underlying the Mohists’ recom- mendations for transforming human motivations, and he challenges the standard understanding of “impartial caring.” I find the former to be very plausible, while the latter is quite dubious.
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Those who are not already familiar with Mohist thought will find Fraser’s overview of the primary texts and review of previous research very useful. For example, many interpreters assert that the Mohist state of nature argument to justify... more
Those who are not already familiar with Mohist thought will find Fraser’s overview of the primary texts and review of previous research very useful. For example, many interpreters assert that the Mohist state of nature argument to justify government authority is like that of Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679) in assuming that humans are innately self-interested. In contrast, Fraser follows those like FUNG Yu-lan (FENG Youlan 馮友蘭), who argue that, for the Mohists, conflict in the state of nature is driven by disagreement over values, not over conflicts of self-interested desires (86–87; compare Fung, History of Chinese Philosophy, trans. Derk Bodde [Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1952], vol. 1, 101). Fraser also makes a couple of original contributions. He presents a novel account of the assumptions underlying the Mohists’ recommendations for transforming human motivations, and he challenges the standard understanding of “impartial caring.” I find the former to be very plausible, while the
latter is quite dubious.
latter is quite dubious.
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This book provides an overview of philosophical theories of truth and semantics in ancient China, using contemporary analytic philosophy of language as an interpretive framework. The discussion is limited to Chinese philosophy prior to... more
This book provides an overview of philosophical theories of truth and semantics in ancient China, using contemporary analytic philosophy of language as an interpretive framework. The discussion is limited to Chinese philosophy prior to the intellectual revolution caused by Buddhism. However, the period Alexus McLeod focuses on (551 BCE-220 CE) is philosophically rich. This book is accessible to mainstream philosophers, generally well argued, and plausible in most of its conclusions.
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Graham Priest has written an original, wide-ranging, and fascinating book on the age old problem of unity and diversity. Though often technical, this book deals with issues in metaphysics and ethics that are closely connected with... more
Graham Priest has written an original, wide-ranging, and fascinating book on the age old problem of unity and diversity. Though often technical, this book deals with issues in metaphysics and ethics that are closely connected with Mahayana Buddhism. The present book consists of three parts. Part I addresses the issue of what distinguishes a mere collection of items from one thing with parts. Part II discusses how one property can be located in many things. Part III explores the sense in which the many things of the universe are also one. I shall say a bit about Part I, but most of my comments will focus on Part III.
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This essay discusses (1) what opportunities exist for doctoral students in philosophy who hope to specialize in Chinese philosophy, (2) how have these opportunities improved over the last eight years, (3) what are the obstacles to further... more
This essay discusses (1) what opportunities exist for doctoral students in philosophy who hope to specialize in Chinese philosophy, (2) how have these opportunities improved over the last eight years, (3) what are the obstacles to further acceptance of Chinese philosophy in philosophy departments, and (4) how hopeful should we be about future improvements?
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This list is just one opinion regarding which doctoral programs are the best. Schools are arranged alphabetically, not by rank. At the end is a list of a few scholars at schools that do not offer doctorates, and some journals that... more
This list is just one opinion regarding which doctoral programs are the best. Schools are arranged alphabetically, not by rank. At the end is a list of a few scholars at schools that do not offer doctorates, and some journals that publish articles on Chinese philosophy.
Research Interests: Buddhism, Philosophy, Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Studies, Daoism, and 3 moreChina, Confucianism, and Taoism
These are the keynote addresses for the conference, "Metaphors in Use," hosted by Lehigh University, October 8-9, 2015. Lynne Tirrell: "Metaphors, Euphemisms, and Slurs: Using Tropes to Sculpt the Social Landscape." Bryan Van... more
These are the keynote addresses for the conference, "Metaphors in Use," hosted by Lehigh University, October 8-9, 2015.
Lynne Tirrell: "Metaphors, Euphemisms, and Slurs: Using Tropes to Sculpt the Social Landscape."
Bryan Van Norden: "Like Loving a Lovely Sight’: Simile and Metaphor in Chinese Philosophy" (starts at 31:54)
Elisabeth Camp: "Analogical Equations and Conceptual Expansion: Metaphors in Scientific Imagination" (starts at 1:26:00)
Lynne Tirrell: "Metaphors, Euphemisms, and Slurs: Using Tropes to Sculpt the Social Landscape."
Bryan Van Norden: "Like Loving a Lovely Sight’: Simile and Metaphor in Chinese Philosophy" (starts at 31:54)
Elisabeth Camp: "Analogical Equations and Conceptual Expansion: Metaphors in Scientific Imagination" (starts at 1:26:00)
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A one-page refutation of Rubio's denigration of philosophy as a major.
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A one-page refutation of Rubio's dismissal of philosophy majors.
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Dialetheism is the view that some sentences are both true and not true, in the same sense and at the same time. In this brief essay I present a though experiment as part of an argument against dialetheism.
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This essay examines two famous metaphors in Chinese philosophy: that humans have "sprouts" of virtue, and that Sincerity is "like loving a lovely sight." I argue that these metaphors illustrate Elisabeth Camp's theory that metaphors both... more
This essay examines two famous metaphors in Chinese philosophy: that humans have "sprouts" of virtue, and that Sincerity is "like loving a lovely sight." I argue that these metaphors illustrate Elisabeth Camp's theory that metaphors both have propositional content but also invite us to view one thing as another.
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In Chapter 2 of his Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought (2000), Hansen critiques what he refers to as "the standard interpretive theory" and "widely held assumptions." In fact, many of his claims are commonplace assumptions, and have been... more
In Chapter 2 of his Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought (2000), Hansen critiques what he refers to as "the standard interpretive theory" and "widely held assumptions." In fact, many of his claims are commonplace assumptions, and have been so since before he began graduate school. What is new is Hansen's arguments for these conclusions. However, these arguments are generally based on factually erroneous claims about Classical Chinese or simple non-sequiturs. Unwary readers of Hansen will walk away with a very misleading conception of Chinese language and thought, as well as a mistaken view of the field.
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These brief remarks outline the methodological flaws that vitiate Nisbett's The Geography of Thought (2004). In particular, (1) he essentializes Asia. (2) He generalizes from small samples to conclusions about radically different... more
These brief remarks outline the methodological flaws that vitiate Nisbett's The Geography of Thought (2004). In particular, (1) he essentializes Asia. (2) He generalizes from small samples to conclusions about radically different populations. (3) His conclusions do not follow from his own data.
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摘要：美国当代研究孔子主要有新儒学派、后现代主义学派和伦理学派等三个学派。本文主要从每个学派的特点分析入手，阐释每个学派对孔子和儒家的看法与观点，并且分析每个学派的优点与缺点。
关键词：美国孔学研究 新儒学派 后现代主义学派 伦理学派
关键词：美国孔学研究 新儒学派 后现代主义学派 伦理学派
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据西方哲学，伦理学有三大类型： 功利主义、规则义务论、和美德伦理学。儒家属于哪个类型？本文对此作粗略的说明。 西方哲学当然不是唯一的哲学观点，也未必是最好的哲学观点。不过从这个角度来看中国传统的哲学有机会帮助西方哲学家欣赏孔子、孟子、和别的中国哲学家。而且，用这个方法有机会帮我们从新的观点来看传统的思想，让我们问新的问题。 本文有两个部分。第一个部分的问题是：为什么儒家伦理思想不属于功利主义，也不属于规则义务论? 第二个部分的问题是：... more
据西方哲学，伦理学有三大类型： 功利主义、规则义务论、和美德伦理学。儒家属于哪个类型？本文对此作粗略的说明。 西方哲学当然不是唯一的哲学观点，也未必是最好的哲学观点。不过从这个角度来看中国传统的哲学有机会帮助西方哲学家欣赏孔子、孟子、和别的中国哲学家。而且，用这个方法有机会帮我们从新的观点来看传统的思想，让我们问新的问题。 本文有两个部分。第一个部分的问题是：为什么儒家伦理思想不属于功利主义，也不属于规则义务论? 第二个部分的问题是： 孔子与孟子的伦理思想跟西方的美德伦理学有什么相似之点，也有什么不同之点？
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There is a single bone that is responsible for multiple self-immolations, and for changing the course of Chinese intellectual history. This is its story.
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These are the standard statements I use on my syllabi regarding my ban on the use of electronic devices during class, grading policy, extensions, late work, plagiarism, and accommodations for students with disabilities.
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Handout for students on how to handle commas, colons, semicolons, dashes, hyphens, quotations, and other things they should have learned in high school.
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This guide presents and explains most of the "Elementary Rules of Usage" from The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It also provides additional rules regarding the proper use of quotation marks, parentheses, and other matters.... more
This guide presents and explains most of the "Elementary Rules of Usage" from The Elements of Style by Strunk and White. It also provides additional rules regarding the proper use of quotation marks, parentheses, and other matters. Please feel free to use this in your own class (so long as you keep my name on it), point out any typos, or make suggestions for improvement.
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This is a handout to use when teaching writing to undergraduate students.
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In my comments today, I will argue for three points: (1) Studying philosophy-whether majoring in it or just taking one or more philosophy courses-is a legitimate career choice, even from a narrowly vocational perspective. (2) Studying... more
In my comments today, I will argue for three points: (1) Studying philosophy-whether majoring in it or just taking one or more philosophy courses-is a legitimate career choice, even from a narrowly vocational perspective. (2) Studying philosophy is also valuable to every citizen of a democracy, and to the maintenance of democracy itself. (3) Philosophy has made immense contributions to our civilization, especially to the development of science. Moreover, by its nature it is impossible for philosophy to ever become obsolete.
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This essay discusses the vice of bitterness, drawing insights from the notion of "spiritual apathy" in Thomas Aquinas and the problematic attitude of "resentment" as discussed by Confucians.
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瓦萨学院詹姆斯·门罗·泰勒哲学讲座教授，武汉大学哲学学院哲学讲座教授万白安(Bryan Van Norden)，在这次采访中详细谈及他的家世，他自己如何在宾夕法尼亚州拉特罗布对哲学和中国文化产 生兴趣,谈及古尔曼报告；谈及他的父母对他决定去攻读哲学硕士学位是什么反应，谈到他去斯坦福大 学在倪德卫门下攻读哲学，却发现他并不是在研究哲学；语言的哲学，语言与哲学的关系和哲学的语 言的区别；1991 年的就业市场，康德对哲学史的种族主义修改，他的第一份临时工作，碰到骗子，失... more
瓦萨学院詹姆斯·门罗·泰勒哲学讲座教授，武汉大学哲学学院哲学讲座教授万白安(Bryan Van
Norden)，在这次采访中详细谈及他的家世，他自己如何在宾夕法尼亚州拉特罗布对哲学和中国文化产
生兴趣,谈及古尔曼报告；谈及他的父母对他决定去攻读哲学硕士学位是什么反应，谈到他去斯坦福大
学在倪德卫门下攻读哲学，却发现他并不是在研究哲学；语言的哲学，语言与哲学的关系和哲学的语
言的区别；1991 年的就业市场，康德对哲学史的种族主义修改，他的第一份临时工作，碰到骗子，失
业，到瓦萨学院工作；如何提高教学评价，在 R1 类大学的教学挑战，用打扑克赢的的钱支付账单的经
历，谈及扑克和自制力薄弱，东亚哲学教给了西方哲学什么，儒家的家庭观念，佛教的形而上学，美
德欲望，物理主义的缺陷有什么错，谈到了他因政治文章而遭受威胁的言论，哲学如何影响他的生活，
耶鲁-新加坡国立大学学院的公共课，为何哲学没有消亡，尝试将托马斯的亚里士多德学说、儒家、道
家和华严宗综合起来，并说到了《1984》、《卡萨布兰卡》、《房间》、《瑞克和莫蒂》等他喜欢的
影视文学作品和他的最后一餐饭……
Norden)，在这次采访中详细谈及他的家世，他自己如何在宾夕法尼亚州拉特罗布对哲学和中国文化产
生兴趣,谈及古尔曼报告；谈及他的父母对他决定去攻读哲学硕士学位是什么反应，谈到他去斯坦福大
学在倪德卫门下攻读哲学，却发现他并不是在研究哲学；语言的哲学，语言与哲学的关系和哲学的语
言的区别；1991 年的就业市场，康德对哲学史的种族主义修改，他的第一份临时工作，碰到骗子，失
业，到瓦萨学院工作；如何提高教学评价，在 R1 类大学的教学挑战，用打扑克赢的的钱支付账单的经
历，谈及扑克和自制力薄弱，东亚哲学教给了西方哲学什么，儒家的家庭观念，佛教的形而上学，美
德欲望，物理主义的缺陷有什么错，谈到了他因政治文章而遭受威胁的言论，哲学如何影响他的生活，
耶鲁-新加坡国立大学学院的公共课，为何哲学没有消亡，尝试将托马斯的亚里士多德学说、儒家、道
家和华严宗综合起来，并说到了《1984》、《卡萨布兰卡》、《房间》、《瑞克和莫蒂》等他喜欢的
影视文学作品和他的最后一餐饭……
In this interview, Bryan Van Norden, James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy at Vassar College, and Chair Professor in Philosophy in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University, discusses his genealogy in remarkable detail, developing an... more
In this interview, Bryan Van Norden, James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy at Vassar College, and Chair Professor in Philosophy in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University, discusses his genealogy in remarkable detail, developing an interest in philosophy and Chinese culture in Latrobe Pennsylvania, the Gourman Report, how his parents responded to his decision to go to grad school for philosophy, going to Stanford to work with Nivison and learning Nivison wasn’t working on philosophy, the distinction between PHILOSOPHY of language, philosophy OF language, and philosophy of LANGUAGE, the 1991 job market, Kant’s racist revision of the history of philosophy, his first gig, encountering a charlatan, being unemployed, working at Vassar, the challenges of teaching at an R1, improving teaching evaluations, paying the bills with poker money, poker and akrasia, what East Asian philosophy has to teach Western Philosophy, the Confucian conception of family, Buddhist metaphysics, virtue lust, what’s wrong with physicalism, threatening responses to his political writing, how philosophy informs his life, the common curriculum at Yale-NUS, why philosophy is not dead, attempting to synthesize Thomistic Aristotelianism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Huayan Buddhism, 1984, Casablanca, The Room, Rick and Morty, and his last meal…