Ritual and Deference: Extending Chinese Philosophy in a Comparative Context (S U N Y Series in Chinese Philosophy and Culture)

Ritual and Deference develops Robert Cummings Neville's thesis that contemporary philosophy has much to gain by shaping itself through important themes of the Chinese philosophical traditions, especially the themes of ritual and deference. Neville here offers a broad and detailed interpretation of the relevance of Confucianism and Daoism to contemporary issues. The discussion includes analyses of classical Confucian and Daoist texts, especially those of Xunzi and Laozi, and of the current scene of English-speaking philosophy advancing Chinese themes. The book also reflects on the nature of comparative philosophy as such, and the role that comparative philosophy has in the ongoing contemporary engagement with globalization, the clash of cultures, and scientific transformations of the worldviews of diverse civilizations. Neville stresses the importance of deferring to the integrity of cultures while still submitting them to normative analysis and criticism. "Neville addresses an important methodological issue in contemporary Asian and comparative thought by surveying, drawing on, and adding to recent scholarship. Moreover, he has taken the next step by enthusiastically implementing concrete projects relating to Chinese wisdom for the benefit of contemporary life throughout the globe. It is rare to read an academic work that can elicit joyous laughter in response to the author's sage yet delightfully presented thoughts." - Sandra A. Wawrytko, San Diego State University "The suggested use of the Confucian ideas of ritual and deference in conjunction with important themes in Western thought is certainly a contribution to comparative philosophy, and to philosophy generally." -Kathleen Higgins, author of Comic Relief: Nietzsche's Gay Science Frontmatter PREFACE (page xi) ONE A Confucian Program (page 1) TWO The Significance of Confucian Values (page 15) THREE Ritual in Xunzi (page 27) FOUR Daoist Relativism, Ethical Choice, and Normative Measure (page 41) FIVE Chinese Influences in English-Speaking Philosophy (page 59) SIX Methodology, Practices, and Disciplines in Chinese and Western Philosophy (page 75) SEVEN Metaphysics for Contemporary Chinese Philosophy (page 89) EIGHT The Conscious and Unconscious Placing of Ritual in Humanity (page 101) NINE The Contemporary Mutual Development of Confucianism and Christianity (page 113) TEN The Personal and the Impersonal in Conceptions of Divinity (page 121) ELEVEN On Comparison (page 127) TWELVE Contributions of Chinese Philosophy: A Summary Discussion (page 149) NOTES (page 163) INDEX (page 187)