Appreciating the Chinese Difference

A wide-ranging exploration and critical assessment of the work of a major figure in Chinese and comparative philosophy.

A wide-ranging exploration and critical assessment of the work of a major figure in Chinese and comparative philosophy.

In this volume, prominent philosophers working in Chinese thought and related areas critically reflect upon the work of Roger T. Ames, one of the most significant contemporary figures working in the field of Chinese philosophy. Through his decades of collaborative work in comparative methodology and cross-cultural interpretation, along with a number of pathbreaking translations of Chinese philosophical texts, Ames has managed to challenge standing paradigms and open fresh avenues of research into the Chinese tradition. His work will be read and studied for years to come.

The original essays presented here, which are substantive philosophical contributions in their own right, cover the full range of Ames's scholarly output. They address methodological questions as well as specific issues in textual interpretation, including ample discussion of Ames's most recent and provocative contribution: Confucian "role ethics." In the final section of the book, Ames responds to each essay. The result is a conversation and engagement that both underscores the vitality of his thinking and indicates the directions it may take in the future. Altogether, this work provides a snapshot of a remarkable career-and an invitation to continue reflecting upon its meaning and importance.

Jim Behuniak is Professor of Philosophy at Colby College.

Jim Behuniak is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Colby College and the author of Mencius on Becoming Human, also published by SUNY Press.

"…the anthology offers an excellent overview of Ames' oeuvre and his wide-reaching influence and, at times, the reader is treated to a close engagement with specific issues such as translation of key concepts, methodology, and how best to situate the ethical perspective of early Confucianism." — China Review International

"This is an outstanding collection, critically and constructively engaging a scholar whose work has shaped the entire field of Chinese philosophy." — Franklin Perkins, author of Heaven and Earth Are Not Humane: The Problem of Evil in Classical Chinese Philosophy