|
Kibbitznest Liberal Arts Discussions are a collaboration with The University of Chicago Graham School to host presentations and discussions of original research, hosted at Kibbitznest Books, Brews & Blarney.
All proceeds benefit the kibbitznest nonprofit, with a mission to encourage face-to-face communication, inspire conversation, and bring our community together to share insights and philosophies in a Socratic dialogue.
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
_______________________________
About the Discussion:
In this culture, when people hear "devotion to family" they're likely to envision the devotion of parents to their children's well-being, or possibly the devotion of each member to the family as a whole. Confucianism, by contrast, pays enormous attention to the duties children have toward their elders; filial piety, though an awkward translation, effectively conveys the religious nature of the orientation that sons and daughters are supposed to have to their parentsup to and including literal worship.
We'll explore the concept of filial piety in-depth, examining some of the classical arguments for why it is supposedly so important. For Confucian thinkers, humans are fundamentally vulnerable, sensitive animals that rely on each other extensivelyand the greatest reliance of all, is on parents to bring us into life and raise us up. This creates a kind of unpayable debt to the people we owe our very lives to, and Confucians think the profound emotions involved can structure and guide our various other relationships as well. It's normal for individualism-minded people to find Confucianism depressingly hierarchical and collectivistic, which means that taking the arguments for filial piety seriously can throw a fascinating critical light on the "Enlightenment" assumptions that so many of us take for granted.
_______________________________
STEPHEN C. WALKER holds a PhD in the Philosophy of Religions from the University of Chicago Divinity School. His research focuses on classical Chinese thoughtparticularly Daoism and the Zhuangziand explores the relationship between skeptical, relativistic, and anti-realist theoretical claims and the practical consequences of taking such claims seriously. He has also worked extensively with Sanskrit materials, particularly those reflecting the classical heritage of exacting interreligious debate. Interests that inform his writing and teaching include the personal and social contexts for philosophical work, the ambiguity, and malleability of concepts, and the importance of learning to appreciate both insider and outsider perspectives on texts and traditions.
_______________________________
Sponsor: Kibbitznest Books, Brews & Blarney
Registration is not necessary but appreciated due to space limitations.
kibbitznest is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and wifi-free zone dedicated to the preservation of quality face-to-face human communication.
|
|
 |
LocationKibbitznest (View)
2212 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 18 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
|
Contact
|
