Shenzi Fragments

A Philosophical Analysis and Translation

AvEirik Lang Harris

Inbunden, Engelska, 2016

Del i serien Translations from the Asian Classics

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Beskrivning

The Shenzi Fragments is the first complete translation in any Western language of the extant work of Shen Dao (350-275 B.C.E.). Though his writings have been recounted and interpreted in many texts, particularly in the work of Xunzi and Han Fei, very few Western scholars have encountered the political philosopher's original, influential formulations. This volume contains both a translation and an analysis of the Shenzi Fragments. It explains their distillation of the potent political theories circulating in China during the Warring States period, along with their seminal relationship to the Taoist and Legalist traditions and the philosophies of the Lushi Chunqiu and the Huainanzi. These fragments outline a rudimentary theory of political order modeled on the natural world that recognizes the role of human self-interest in maintaining stable rule. Casting the natural world as an independent, amoral system, Shen Dao situates the source of moral judgment firmly within the human sphere, prompting political philosophy to develop in realistic directions. Harris's sophisticated translation is paired with commentary that clarifies difficult passages and obscure references.For sections open to multiple interpretations, he offers resources for further research and encourages readers to follow their own path to meaning, much as Shen Dao intended. The Shenzi Fragments offers English-language readers a chance to grasp the full significance of Shen Dao's work among the pantheon of Chinese intellectuals.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2016-09-20
Mått:140 x 216 x 19 mm
Vikt:360 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Serie:Translations from the Asian Classics
Antal sidor:200
Förlag:Columbia University Press
ISBN:9780231177665

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Eirik Lang Harris is assistant professor of philosophy in the Department of Public Policy at the City University of Hong Kong, where he is also a member of the Center for East Asian and Comparative Philosophy. His research focuses on early Chinese political and moral philosophy, with an emphasis on its potential contributions to contemporary political philosophy and ethics.

Recensioner i media

With imagination and philosophical acumen, Eirik Lang Harris has shown Shen Dao to be an ancient political philosopher worth contending with. He shows Shen Dao to have a balanced and realistic philosophy, occupying a position between Confucianism and Mohism. His translation, accompanied by the Chinese text, will serve philosophers for decades to come. -- Al Martinich, Roy Allison Vaughan Centennial Professor in Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin Harris's new translation and commentary on the surviving fragments of Shen Dao's writings is a significant contribution to Sinology. He skillfully explains Shen Dao's political philosophy in terms that are readily comprehensible to contemporary thinkers. This is an excellent overview of ancient Chinese philosophy for both specialists and nonspecialists. -- Bryan Van Norden, author of Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy Harris provides an excellent translation and study of the Shenzi Fragments and does a beautiful job of demonstrating the significance of the fragments for our understanding of early Chinese political philosophy. This work will play a crucial role in bringing scholarly attention back to these important yet often neglected materials. -- Michael Puett, coauthor of The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us About the Good Life

Innehållsförteckning

Acknowledgments Conventions and Abbreviations Introduction Part I: A Philosophical Study of the Shenzi Fragments Shen Dao's Political Philosophy Shen Dao in the Early Chinese Intellectual Milieu Part II: A Translation of the Shenzi Fragments Appendix: Conversion and Finding Chart Notes Bibliography Index