In the Western philosophical tradition, emotions and morality are typically delineated as two distinct domains. Imperative moral doctrines are often understood as mechanisms for controlling or supervising unruly emotions—affective forces thought to prompt irrational or morally questionable actions. By contrast, East Asian philosophical traditions approach these issues from notably different perspectives.
Confucian thinkers, in particular, famously contend that filial piety—rooted in the natural affection one has for one’s parents—forms the foundation of moral behavior. While the junzi (gentleman or refined person) is characterized by commitment to ritual propriety, Confucian texts also suggest that understanding fundamental human desires, especially the sexual desire and how to regulate it, is essential for grasping the nature and function of ritual itself (以色喻礼).
Scholars of East Asian philosophy will reflect on questions such as:
- Do emotions serve as a foundation for ethical behavior?
- Are emotions conducive to morality, and if so, in what ways?
- Can imperative moral doctrines effectively shape, regulate, or transform emotions and the
actions they motivate? - What roles do rituals play within Confucianism in mediating the dynamic relationship between
emotion and morality?
This project is conceived as part of the Historical Traditions of Ethics Research Cluster and as a companion to the History of Philosophy Colloquium: “Emotions and Morality in the History of Philosophy,” scheduled for April 23–24, 2026. We would like to encourage our participants to attend both events to stimulate dialogue and potential future collaboration.
Participants in the Workshop on Eastern Philosophy
- Paul R. Goldin, Professor of Chinese Thought; Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania (prg@sas.upenn.edu)
- Stephen Angle, Professor of Philosophy; Wesleyan University (sangle@wesleyan.edu)
- Yong Huang, Professor of Philosophy; Chinese University of Hong Kong (yonghuang@cuhk.edu.hk)
- Liang Cai, Associate Professor of History; University of Notre Dame (lcai@nd.edu)
- Mike Zhao, Assistant Professor of Philosophy; University of Notre Dame (mzhao5@nd.edu)
- Richard Kim, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University Chicago (rkim7@luc.edu)
- Hussein Abdulsater, Associate Professor of Arabic Culture and Islamic Studies; University of Notre Dame (Hussein.A.Abdulsater.1@nd.edu)
Organized by Liang Cai, Associate Professor of History; University of Notre Dame (lcai@nd.edu)
Originally published at historyofphilosophy.nd.edu.