The Art of Chinese Philosophy

Eight Classical Texts and How to Read Them

Paul Goldin

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780691200798, 9780691200781
• eBook ISBN: 9780691200811
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy

A smart and accessible introduction to the most important works of ancient Chinese philosophy—the Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Sunzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi

This book provides an unmatched introduction to eight of the most important works of classical Chinese philosophy—the Analects of Confucius, Mozi, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Sunzi, Xunzi, and Han Feizi. Combining accessibility with the latest scholarship, Paul Goldin, one of the world's leading authorities on the history of Chinese philosophy, places these works in rich context as he explains the origin and meaning of their compelling ideas.

Because none of these classics was written in its current form by the author to whom it is attributed, the book begins by asking, "What are we reading?" and showing that understanding the textual history of the works enriches our appreciation of them. A chapter is devoted to each of the eight works, and the chapters are organized into three sections: "Philosophy of Heaven," which looks at how the Analects, Mozi, and Mencius discuss, often skeptically, Heaven (tian) as a source of philosophical values; "Philosophy of the Way," which addresses how Laozi, Zhuangzi, and Sunzi introduce the new concept of the Way (dao) to transcend the older paradigms; and "Two Titans at the End of an Age," which examines how Xunzi and Han Feizi adapt the best ideas of the earlier thinkers for a coming imperial age.

In addition, the book presents clear and insightful explanations of the protean and frequently misunderstood concept of qi—and of a crucial characteristic of Chinese philosophy, nondeductive reasoning. The result is an invaluable account of an endlessly fascinating and influential philosophical tradition.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: What Are We Reading?
• Chapter One: Nondeductive Argumentation and the Art of Chinese Philosophy
• Part I: Philosophy of Heaven
• Chapter Two: The Analects of Confucius
• Chapter Three: Mozi
• Chapter Four: Mencius
• Part II: Philosophy of the Way
• Chapter Five: Laozi
• Chapter Six: Zhuangzi
• Chapter Seven: Sunzi
• Part III: Two Titans at the End of an Age
• Chapter Eight: Xunzi
• Chapter Nine: Han Feizi
• Appendix: What Is qi 氣 and Why Was It a Good Idea?
• Notes
• Bibliography
• General Index
• Index Locorum