Tang Junyi: Confucian Philosophy and the Challenge of Modernity (Modern Chinese Philosophy, 13)

Tang Junyi's modern Confucianism ranks among the most ambitious philosophical projects in 20th century China. In__Tang Junyi: Confucian Philosophy and the Challenge of Modernity__, Thomas Frohlich examines Tang Junyi's intellectual reaction to a time of cataclysmic change marked by two Chinese revolutions (1911 and 1949), two world wars, the Cold War period, rapid modernization in East Asia, and the experience of exile. The present study fundamentally questions widespread interpretations that depict modern Confucianism as essentially traditionalist and nationalistic. Thomas Frohlich shows that Tang Junyi actually challenges such interpretations with an insightful understanding of the modern individual's vulnerability, as well as a groundbreaking reinterpretation of Confucianism as the civil-theological foundation for liberal democracy in China. Tang Junyi's Modern Confucianism Ranks Among The Most Ambitious Philosophical Projects In 20th Century China. In Tang Junyi: Confucian Philosophy And The Challenge Of Modernity, Thomas Fröhlich Examines Tang Junyi's Intellectual Reaction To A Time Of Cataclysmic Change Marked By Two Chinese Revolutions (1911 And 1949), Two World Wars, The Cold War Period, Rapid Modernization In East Asia, And The Experience Of Exile. The Present Study Fundamentally Questions Widespread Interpretations That Depict Modern Confucianism As Essentially Traditionalist And Nationalistic. Thomas Fröhlich Shows That Tang Junyi Actually Challenges Such Interpretations With An Insightful Understanding Of The Modern Individual's Vulnerability, As Well As A Groundbreaking Reinterpretation Of Confucianism As The Civil-theological Foundation For Liberal Democracy In China. By Thomas Frohlich. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 293-313) And Index. Tang Junyi's modern Confucianism ranks among the most ambitious philosophical projects in 20th century China. In Tang Junyi: Confucian Philosophy and the Challenge of Modernity , Thomas Frohlich examines Tang Junyi's intellectual reaction to a time of cataclysmic change marked by two Chinese revolutions (1911 and 1949), two world wars, the Cold War period, rapid modernization in East Asia, and the experience of exile. The present study fundamentally questions widespread interpretations that depict modern Confucianism as essentially traditionalist and nationalistic. Thomas Frohlich shows that Tang Junyi actually challenges such interpretations with an insightful understanding of the modern individual's vulnerability, as well as a groundbreaking reinterpretation of Confucianism as the civil-theological foundation for liberal democracy in China. Both inside and outside of China, there have been heated debates about Confucian democracy, Confucian values and ethics, and Confucian alternatives to Western models of modernization. In many respects, however, the discussions have reached an impasse: Whereas some observers tend to depict Confucianism as a panacea for all kinds of political and social ills in East Asian and Western societies, others consider it to be a mere vestige of the Chinese tradition which lacks any relevance for contemporary discourse. The present study proposes a way through this impasse based on a critical examination of the modern Confucian project developed by the exiled philosopher Tang Junyi (1909-1978). Tang?s comprehensive reinterpretation of Confucianism ranks among the most ambitious philosophical projects in modern Chinese history.