Thinking from the Han: Self, Truth, and Transcendence in Chinese and Western Culture

by David L. Hall

Examines the issues of self (including gender), truth, and transcendence in classical Chinese and Western philosophy.

"I especially like the book's clarity of presentation and its attempt to address the way in which contemporary Westerners are likely to misunderstand the Chinese. The way the book draws attention to the practical effects that the different philosophical backgrounds of China and the West have on our current efforts at cross-cultural dialogue is extremely timely and gives life to the philosophical ideas considered.

"The discussion of Chinese approaches to gender issues is fascinating, and it represents a real contribution to gender theory. The clarification of the way in which Chinese thought does and does not correspond to deconstructionist outlooks is helpful and surprising. The discussion of Daoism's use of humor is both delightful and seriously important for scholars of either tradition and the discussion of the li in relation to human rights is extremely helpful for ethical thought." -- Kathleen Higgins, The University of Texas at Austin

This book continues a comparative project begun with the authors' Thinking Through Confucius and Anticipating China. It continues the comparative discussions by focusing upon three concepts--self, truth, transcendence--which best illuminate the distinctive characters of the two cultures. "Self" specifies the meaning of the human subject, "truth" considers that subject's manner of relating to the world of which it is a part, and "transcendence" raises the issue as to whether the self/world relationship is grounded in something other than the elements resourced immediately in self and world. Considered together, the discussions of these concepts advertise in a most dramatic fashion the intellectual barriers currently existing between Chinese and Western thinkers. More importantly, these discussions reformulate Chinese and Western vocabularies in a manner that will enhance the possibilities of intercultural communication.

Genres: China, Philosophy, Nonfiction

360 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 1997

Reviews

[Sabina Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

"_Thinking from the Han_ is as sensitive an introduction to Chinese philosophy as there has been. Among its many strengths are a comparative method that introduces classical Chinese philosophy on its own terms, an historically grounded approach that treats the tradition as an ongoing cultural narrative, and a groundbreaking analysis of the differences between Chinese and Western sexism.

"By confronting major obstacles to appreciating Chinese thought, Hall and Ames help readers overcome common misconceptions . . . long accepted in the teaching of Chinese thought. In particular, they are careful not to reduce an historicist tradition to theoretical or conceptual terms that import alien notions such as objectivity, strict identity or transcendence.

"The authors’ pragmatist, historicist approach is signaled in the title. By specifying Han China’s importance in synthesizing and codifying what became dominant Sinitic culture, they disavow any pretense of analyzing a timeless or universal Chinese thought. . . .

"By critically reexamining dominant Western categories and commitments, _Thinking from the Han_ offers a compelling argument for the place of Chinese philosophy in the future development of world culture. . . .

"Of particular importance and originality are the authors’ concluding reflections on Chinese philosophy’s potential for furthering human rights theories. . . ."

From Sabina Knight, Review of _Thinking from the Han_, by David L. Hall and Roger T. Ames (SUNY Press, 1998). _China Review International_, vol 6, no. 2, pp. 449-52. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23732194...