Chinese Philosophy

Ronnie L Littlejohn is Professor of Philosophy and Director of Asian Studies at Belmont University, Tennessee. His previous books include Riding the Wind with Liezi: New Essays on the Daoist Classic (2011), Confucianism: An Introduction (I.B.Tauris, 2010) and Daoism: An Introduction (I.B.Tauris, 2009).

'This is an amazingly well-written and helpful introduction to the topic. Systematically divided into four parts - the ontological, the epistemological, the moral and the political - it explores fundamental questions through which readers may begin to appreciate the specificity of Chinese philosophy as well as its commonality with Western philosophy. The book offers a fascinating treatment, from ancient times to the present day, of well selected Chinese philosophers, their texts and their doctrines: sometimes in comparison with the most important Western philosophers like Plato, Berkeley, Mill, Whitehead and Wittgenstein. Ronnie Littlejohn has written the best concise introductory book of its kind on the market. It does a great job in orienting undergraduate students; it will similarly prove to be of real value to general readers; and even specialists and experts in the field will gain a good deal from reading it.' - Vincent Shen, Lee Chair in Chinese Thought and Culture, University of Toronto; 'With a talented and discerning brush, this discriminating and at the same time student friendly work paints a vivid picture of the Chinese philosophical landscape. Its canvas is broad, its execution is elegant; and it is sure to serve as a welcome resource for our deeper understanding of philosophy in a global setting.' - Robin R Wang, Professor of Philosophy, Director of Asian and Pacific Studies, Loyola Marymount University, author of Yinyang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture (2012); 'This work is a comprehensive and highly analytical presentation of Chinese philosophy from the earliest beginnings to the modern era. Arranged thematically in four parts, covering ontology, epistemology, value theory, and political philosophy, it is both daunting in its scope and amazing in its depth. Each section presents the basic features of the kind of philosophy in question, followed by extensive discussions and translations from relevant Chinese works, creating intrinsic connections between eras and opening a powerful vision of the intricate unfolding of Chinese thought. The book inspires and challenges while engaging and clarifying an established subject in an illuminating new light.' - Livia Kohn, Professor Emerita of Religion and East Asian Studies, Boston University; 'It is daringly ambitious to try to present in a short monograph an overview of what Chinese philosophy as a whole might bring to world philosophical conversation. Yet within a framework of questions that are recognizably philosophical, as well as global, Professor Littlejohn's refreshing thematic approach introduces readers to how Chinese philosophers of different historical periods - and associated with varied schools of thought - think, and what positions they have adopted on the nature of reality, knowledge, value, and government. Written with admirable clarity and breadth, Littlejohn's book succeeds in communicating the distinctive tenors of Chinese thought and experience. This is an invaluable resource for teaching Chinese philosophy that will interest general readers as well as students and their teachers.' - Sor-hoon Tan, Associate Professor of Philosophy, National University of Singapore