How ancient Chinese philosophers make sense of modern headaches
Scholar Daniel A. Bell has written an entertaining new book, exposing a new generation to ancient Chinese wisdom on the issues of our day
Equally important is his post as the founding editor of the China book series with the Princeton University Press that translates and publishes original and influential works from China. His latest book, Why Ancient Chinese Political Thought Matters: Four Dialogues on China’s Past, Present and Future, has been published under its auspices.
I was originally excited, thinking it could be a summational work after a distinguished career interpreting classical Chinese thought. As it is, the book is an introduction to the subject and has the general reader in mind. It has the virtue of being entertaining, even funny, in some places.
I especially love how two contemporary representatives of Confucius and Zhuangzi debate the meanings of harmony and freedom while drinking fiery rice wine at a bar on an outlying island of Hong Kong. My own experience in such settings is that it usually ends in incoherence and unconsciousness, so it’s a wonder that the participants in the debate managed not only to articulate their positions perfectly but even reached some definitive conclusions.
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Confucius makes comeback under communism
For example, in the debate between figures representing the Legalist Han Feizi and the Confucian Xunzi, rituals are defended by the latter as the glue that brings a community together, especially when an abundance of alcohol is made available. That seems to be a far cry from the kind of rituals usually associated with the Confucian school where people just fall asleep from the tedium.