Internationally distinguished scholar Chung-Ying Cheng paid a visit to the College of Philosophy and Sociology of Shanxi University on May 26.

Born in Nanjing in 1935, Cheng is considered one of the pioneers who formalized the field of Chinese philosophy in the United States in the 1960s. Cheng received his Bachelor of Arts from National Taiwan University in 1956, a Master’s degree from the University of Washington in 1958, and a PhD from Harvard University in 1963.

He joined the Department of Philosophy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1963. He has lectured at numerous prestigious institutions such as Yale University and Oxford University. He also served as Chair of the Department of Philosophy at National Taiwan University.

Currently, he is visiting chair professor in Chinese Philosophy at King's College London, visiting professor at Peking University and Tsinghua University, distinguished chair professor at Renmin University, and visiting chair professor of the Humanity Department at Shanghai Jiaotong University.

Cheng's research interests are in the areas of Chinese logic, the origins of Chinese philosophy, Confucian, Neo-Confucian Philosophy, and the onto-hermeneutics of eastern and western philosophy.

During the symposium, Cheng talked about the evolution of American philosophy research from theology to pragmatism, while European philosophy has transformed from induction to logical analysis. He also contrasted Chinese and western philosophy theories from moral and ethical perspectives.

Chung-Ying Cheng (second from right), gives a Chinese calligraphy to the College of Philosophy and Sociology at Shanxi University in Taiyuan on May 26. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Cheng (second from right), paints Chinese characters at Shanxi University on May 26. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]

Cheng gives a speech during the symposium at Shanxi University on May 26. [Photo/sxu.edu.cn]