Learning from Chinese Philosophies
Ethics of Interdependent and Contextualised Self
Ashgate World Philosophies Series

Learning from Chinese Philosophies engages Confucian and Daoist philosophies in creative interplay, developing a theory of interdependent selfhood in the two philosophical traditions. Karyn Lai draws on the unique insights of the two philosophies to address contemporary debates on ethics, community and government. Issues discussed include questions on selfhood, attachment, moral development, government, culture and tradition, and feminist queries regarding biases and dualism in ethics. Throughout the book, Lai demonstrates that Chinese philosophies embody novel and insightful ideas for addressing contemporary issues and problems.

Introduction; Part I Reviewing the Old; Chapter 1 Self and Society in Confucian Thought; Chapter 2 The Situated Self in Daoist Philosophy; Chapter 3 Elements of Confucian Moral Thinking; Chapter 4 Daoist Meta-ethics: Frameworks and Approaches; Part II Realising the New; Chapter 5 Confucianism as a Skills-Based Ethic; Chapter 6 The Feminist Care Ethic and the Issue of Relationality in Chinese Philosophy; Chapter 7 Tradition, Change and Adaptation; Chapter 8 Harmony and Conflict in Early Chinese Philosophy; conclusion Conclusion;

Karyn Lai is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of New South Wales, Australia.