[SydPhil] UNSW Philosophy Seminar: Nov 17

[Timothy O'Leary]

*UNSW Philosophy Seminar *


* Title:* Mencian Benevolence and Affective Dispositions.



*Speaker: *Waldemar Brys, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology



*Abstract: *Many hold that, for the Confucian philosopher Mencius, being a
benevolent person necessarily entails being affectively disposed in morally
relevant ways. I argue that ascribing such a view to Mencius generates an
inconsistent triad with two of his central philosophical commitments. I
consider possible ways of resolving the triad, and I argue that the most
attractive option is to reject the view that a benevolent person must be
affectively disposed in morally relevant ways; instead, I propose that, on
a broadly Mencian picture, having a disposition to perform benevolent
actions is enough.



*Waldemar Brys* is Research Assistant Professor at the Hong Kong University
of Science and Technology and Research Fellow in the History of Chinese
Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Dr. Brys’ research
focuses on early Chinese Philosophy, with a particular emphasis on pre-Qin
Confucianism, and it is informed by the guiding idea that an engagement
between early Confucianism and contemporary analytic philosophy can be
mutually enriching.


*Place & Time:*


Tuesday 17 Nov

12:00-1:30pm

UNSW Kensington

Morven Brown Building

Room 209

&

Online:
Join the meeting now
<https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/430383615954857?p=37z5DjdP5CuhpqGG8z>



*Contact:* Timothy O’Leary <t.oleary at unsw.edu.au>