Four Exemplars of Ru ? Confucianism : Beyond Comparative Philosophy

This book discusses scholars who have all engaged in comparative philosophy projects, many of whom first rose to fame because of their penetrating insights into the similarities and differences in “Western” and “Chinese” thought. They all went beyond simply looking at how one thinker, one school, or one tradition relates to another: each draws on sources from China and the West. However, their projects―from role ethics to concrete metaphysics, from critiquing individualism to balancing harmony and justice―are attempts at re-evaluating the way we view the world and live our lives. These projects are systematic, thorough tong 通, and comprehensive descriptions of ourselves, the world, and our interactions with others. They are all comparative, but, on top of this, they also aim at making a point that transcends their comparisons. The book thus shows that these great thinkers draw on a multiplicity of resources, and while they might find some ideas closer to home than others, comparison is a necessary constant. Using traditional Confucian vocabulary, this type of philosophizing is described as practicing xue 学, normally understood as “studying” or “learning.” But, it also means to copy, imitate, model, or emulate. In the process of xue, one imitates, but with a nod to differences. This book honors four models of such an attitude to xue. In its examination of some of the most influential scholars in Chinese thought, this is a seminal book for scholars and students in Chinese and comparative philosophy. 

Paul J. D’Ambrosio is a fellow of the Institute of Modern Chinese Thought and Culture, professor of Chinese philosophy, and dean of the Center for Intercultural Research, all at East China Normal University in Shanghai, China. He is also a researcher at the Ma Yifu Academy, Zhejiang University. Additionally, he is a founder of the 四海为学 “Collaborative Learning” lecture and seminar series. He works by D’Ambrosio include You and Your Profile (Columbia University Press, 2021), and Genuine Pretending (Columbia University Press, 2017), both with Hans-Georg Moeller, 真假之间 (Kong Xuetang Press, 2020), and Encountering China (Harvard University Press, 2018) with Michael Sandel. Additionally, he has authored over 100 articles, chapters, and reviews and is a translator of over a dozen books on Chinese philosophy.

Geir Sigurðsson studied philosophy, sociology and Chinese studies in Europe, the United States, and China. He is Professor of Chinese studies and transcultural philosophy at University of Iceland and Visiting Professor at Ningbo University, China. Geir is author of Confucian Propriety and Ritual Learning: A Philosophical Interpretation (2015), an annotated translation of the ancient Chinese classic Sunzi‘s Art of War into Icelandic (2019), and co-editor of the volumes Contemporary Interpretations and Readings of the Yijing: The Changes in Our Times and Imaginary Worlds and Imperial Power: The Case of China (2025).

Hans-Georg Moeller is a Professor at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the University of Macau. He authored numerous books including You and Your Profile: Identity after Authenticity, Genuine Pretending: On the Philosophy of the Zhuangzi (both with Paul D’Ambrosio), The Moral Fool: A Case for Amorality, The Radical Luhmann, and The Philosophy of the Daodejing, (all with Columbia University Press). He is content creator of the YouTube philosophy channels Carefree Wandering and Philosophy in Motion.

Dimitra Amarantidou was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She is Senior Instructor of Philosophy at the University of Macau. Her publications include “The Irony of Confucius” (Philosophy Compass, 2022), “Irigaray and Confucius: A Collaborative Approach to (Feminist) Agency” (Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 2022), “Yi mi wei shi: si zhong dangdai xifang daojia shidu zhong de fanfeng yu diaogui” 以謎為匙:四種當代西方道家釋讀中的反諷與吊詭 [The Riddle As Key: Irony and Paradox in Four Contemporary Readings of Daoism] (Research into Daoist Culture, 2022), and others. She works both individually and collaboratively on translations of contemporary Chinese philosophical works. She is also Fellow of the Center for Intercultural Learning at ECNU, and Editor of the Book Reviews (China/Southeast Asia) section for Philosophy East and West.