The Philosopher Li Zehou

Deepens our understanding of this contemporary Chinese thinker's philosophy and its significance.

Li Zehou (1930–2021) was one of China's most prominent contemporary philosophers, transforming Confucian philosophy into a resource for positive change. From a critical rereading of the Analects to a formulation of his own aesthetic theory, Li reinterpreted the tradition from earliest times down to the present day. In this effort, he was inspired by Marx and Kant but was neither a Marxist nor a Kantian. Nor was he a Confucian. He was, and remains, an original: the philosopher Li Zehou.

In this volume, Chinese, European, and US scholars explore Li's contributions to Chinese philosophy and culture, deepening our understanding of his philosophy and its significance while also celebrating the intellectual diversity and richness of Chinese philosophical thought. In a passionate and dedicated endeavor to ensure that Li's philosophy endures and continues to inspire scholars, particularly the younger generation of academics, both in China and around the world, the volume aims to serve as a catalyst for ongoing scholarship and discourse on the work of the philosopher Li Zehou.

Jana S. Rošker is Professor of Sinology at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She is the author or editor of many books, including Following His Own Path: Li Zehou and Contemporary Chinese Philosophy, also published by SUNY Press. Roger T. Ames is Humanities Chair Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Peking University. His many previous books include Living Chinese Philosophy: Zoetology as First Philosophy and Human Becomings: Theorizing Persons for Confucian Role Ethics, both published by SUNY Press.