Joins us for a discussion

led by Stephen C. Walker, PhD

from

The University of Chicago Graham School on,

The Mandate of Heaven - “The Consent of the Governed” in Classical Chinese Thought

A core claim of modern Western political discourse is that the legitimacy of a governing regime flows from popular consent to that regime. In other words, whether people want you to be in charge of them determines whether you should be. Classical Chinese political thinkers developed a fascinating alternative to this idea: their claim is that whether people want you to be in charge determines whether you actually are. The distinction is subtle but important. If consent decides entitlement to power, then we are implicitly distinguishing entitlement from actuality: a person may be entitled to power without having it, or may have it without being entitled to it. But if consent decides power itself, the amount of power anyone exerts is a direct measure of the support they are receiving.

While establishing someone’s entitlement to power can quickly get abstract and controversial, establishing how they actualize their power in society is much more straightforward: just look at whose desires they are satisfying. Although the “Mandate of Heaven” framework was originally rooted in ideas about the divine authorization of leaders, ancient Chinese thinkers soon began interpreting it in more secular terms. For them, society can be seen as a dynamic landscape of desires that are constantly pushing some people upwards in influence while letting others fall; the spectrum of political “consent” ranges from passive resignation to avid enthusiasm. Society is never not in a state of upheaval, and the most important skill for us to cultivate is the skill of catching on to and encouraging trends that will result in satisfaction.

Stephen C. Walker holds a PhD in Philosophy of Religions from the University of Chicago Divinity School. He studies philosophy & the history of philosophy across multiple traditions; his research focuses on classical Chinese thought & especially on Daoism. Walker has also worked extensively with Sanskrit materials, particularly those reflecting the classical heritage of exacting interreligious debate. Interests that inform his writing & teaching include the personal & social contexts for philosophical work, the ambiguity & malleability of concepts, & the role that humanistic studies can play in cultivating appreciation for diverse points of view. 

Free event but reservations are strongly encouraged as space is limited. Reservations are limited to 4 people and the names and email addresses of all attendees MUST be included in the RSVP to confirm the reservation. To reserve your spot, please email: info@kibbitznest.org

Liberal Arts Discussion Series

A collaboration with the

The University of Chicago Graham School
hosting presentations and discussions of original research

Photo Credit: “Revere Heaven and Serve they People”

The Seal of the Mandate of Heaven, China, Trinity Collections, Wikimedia Commons

Source:: https://graham.uchicago.edu