Confucianism and American Philosophy (SUNY Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

In this highly original work, Mathew A. Foust breaks new ground in comparative studies through his exploration of the connections between Confucianism and the American Transcendentalist and Pragmatist movements. In his examination of a broad range of philosophers, including Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Peirce, William James, and Josiah Royce, Foust traces direct lines of influence from early translations of Confucian texts and brings to light conceptual affinities that have been previously overlooked. Combining resources from both traditions, Foust offers fresh insights into contemporary problems and exemplifies the potential of cross-cultural dialogue in an increasingly pluralistic world. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 12 Introduction 16 On Comparative Philosophy 16 American Philosophy as World Philosophy 20 Confucius and Dewey 22 Broadening a Comparative Horizon 25 Boston Confucianism 26 Textual Conventions 27 Overview 29 1. Confucianism and Emerson: Friendship 34 Introduction 34 “Have no friend unlike yourself” 37 Confucian Friendship 40 Confucianism in Emerson’s “Friendship” 47 Conclusion 54 2. Confucianism and Thoreau: Civil Disobedience 56 Introduction 56 Analects 8.13 and Mencius 4A5 57 On Civil Disobedience 59 Confucianism in “Civil Disobedience” 60 On Confucian Civil Disobedience 67 Conclusion 73 3. Confucianism and Peirce: Inquiry and Belief 76 Introduction 76 Doubt, Inquiry, and Belief 77 Peirce’s Four Methods of Belief Fixation 79 Confucius and the Method of Tenacity 84 Confucius and the Method of Authority 85 Confucius and the A Priori Method 89 Confucius and the Scientific Method 91 Conclusion 94 4. Confucianism and James: Human Nature and Morality 98 Introduction 98 Mencius and Xunzi on Human Nature and Morality 99 James on Human Nature and Morality 107 The Healthy-Minded and the Sick-Souled 108 Human Nature, Violence, and Peace 110 Conclusion 114 5. Confucianism and Royce: Shame and Atonement 116 Introduction 116 Shame in the Thought of Royce 119 Shame in the Thought of Confucius and Mencius 123 Theories of Atonement 128 Atonement in the Thought of Royce 128 Atonement in the Thought of Confucius 131 Conclusion 141 Conclusion 144 Looking Back 144 Looking Ahead 146 Notes 150 Bibliography 180 Index 192 Machine generated contents note: On Comparative Philosophy -- American Philosophy as World Philosophy -- Confucius and Dewey -- Broadening a Comparative Horizon -- Boston Confucianism -- Textual Conventions -- Overview -- 1. Confucianism And Emerson: Friendship -- Introduction -- "Have no friend unlike yourself" -- Confucian Friendship -- Confucianism in Emerson's "Friendship" -- Conclusion -- 2. Confucianism And Thoreau: Civil Disobedience -- Introduction -- Analects 8.13 and Mencius 4A5 -- On Civil Disobedience -- Confucianism in "Civil Disobedience" -- On Confucian Civil Disobedience -- Conclusion -- 3. Confucianism And Peirce: Inquiry And Belief -- Introduction -- Doubt, Inquiry, and Belief -- Peirce's Four Methods of Belief Fixation -- Confucius and the Method of Tenacity -- Confucius and the Method of Authority -- Confucius and the A Priori Method -- Confucius and the Scientific Method -- Conclusion -- 4. Confucianism And James: Human Nature And Morality -- Introduction -- Mencius and Xunzi on Human Nature and Morality -- James on Human Nature and Morality -- The Healthy-Minded and the Sick-Souled -- Human Nature, Violence, and Peace -- Conclusion -- 5. Confucianism And Royce: Shame And Atonement -- Introduction -- Shame in the Thought of Royce -- Shame in the Thought of Confucius and Mencius -- Theories of Atonement -- Atonement in the Thought of Royce -- Atonement in the Thought of Confucius -- Conclusion -- CONCLUSION -- Looking Back -- Looking Ahead. In this highly original work, Mathew A. Foust breaks new ground in comparative studies through his exploration of the connections between Confucianism and the American Transcendentalist and Pragmatist movements. In his examination of a broad range of philosophers, including Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Charles Peirce, William James, and Josiah Royce, Foust traces direct lines of influence from early translations of Confucian texts and brings to light conceptual affinities that have been previously overlooked. Combining resources from both traditions, Confucianism and American Philosophy offers fresh insights into contemporary problems and exemplifies the potential of cross-cultural dialogue in an increasingly pluralistic world.