Communitarianism, Confucianism and the Self

An urgent comparison of what Confucianism and Charles Taylor’s communitarianism have to say about the concept of the self and the contemporary challenges that it can unlock.

While the challenges facing the East and West can seem particular and even mutually exacerbating, this enriching study creates a new platform for philosophical dialogue between the two. As Confucian thought wrestles with the push for modernization, and liberal democracy finds new cracks in its political consensus that undermine the communitarian ethos of solidarity, the opportunity for mutual understanding that this vital book offers has never been more pressing.

Andrew Hung draws out the similarities between the communitarianism of Charles Taylor and the Confucian teachings that still guide modern day China. In their common concerns and shared challenges, he finds the potential for mutual inspiration through similar understandings of the self. The surprising number of similarities between the two philosophies show how comparative philosophy between different cultures can be approached, exploring the ways in which each weighs the value of family, community, authenticity, morality, politics and the body. Building this shared account of how an individual’s consciousness exists in the wider world, this book makes clear the immense value of dialogue between philosophical traditions no matter how distinct they might appear.

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