philosophy conference
Had a wonderful couple of days. Shantou University hosted a conference loosely titled, "The Incorporation of Western Philosophy and the Modernization of Chinese Society," (my translation, I didn't really like theirs) which was attended by all the big names in Chinese academia related to philosophy. Discovered that my Chinese doesn't really extend to abstruse philosophical terms, i.e. "phenomenology" and such so discussions of how Hegel's "gemeinshaft" has been translated (correctly or incorrectly) over the years in China kind of lost me. Felt better when I was talking to some of the graduated students and they were mentioning that they didn't get a lot of the technical terms either.
Still had a great time though. I was the only big nose in the audience and I kept on getting lots of puzzled looks and pleased/surprised smiles from the participants. One of the organizers is a new friend of mine, a professor in the education department so not only did I finally get copies of the papers (think of them as new vocabulary lists) I also got invited to the final dinner at a fancy shmancy restaurant. I was seated with her and the grad students that had helped her while getting the conference up and running - that is, at the least important table, but who cares? I had a great time and the food was fabulous. Plus I got to participate in all the toasts from the famous philosophers who came over to thank "us" all for our help with the conference - which obviously I didn't deserve, but I got free wine that way and no one felt like it was important to blow my "cover."
It was a great chance to see high-level Chinese academia in action and incredibly fun to watch them discuss/yell at each other. "Everything you said was completely empty. Ha Ha!" "Apparently you never read my book, because if you had you never would have said..." "Of course I read your book, I just didn't think that it was worthwhile to mention." Fun. Fun. The whole concept of Chinese consensus is aparently a myth for foreign (and occasionally Chinese) consumption - or at least one that wasn't intended to include crusty philosophers.
Of course, the participants have all known each other for years. Since the conference was so small, it was almost like an intimate academic party with all the of the participants reviving long-term arguments and enjoying their mutual performance of expertness. Additionally there was only one woman amongst the guys presenting papers so her presence didn't spoil the old boys' club feel of the whole thing. Even old philosophers apparently like the chance to get a "vacation" from home. Kind of like a resort for curmudgeonly philosophers without bacci and with better food than the obligatory rubber chicken.
Heading back to the university today but mostly because Lam blackmailed me into going with him so I could help him translate some of the English in his powerpoint presentation and so he won't be bored during office hours - which he hates and tries to skip as often as possible.
Still had a great time though. I was the only big nose in the audience and I kept on getting lots of puzzled looks and pleased/surprised smiles from the participants. One of the organizers is a new friend of mine, a professor in the education department so not only did I finally get copies of the papers (think of them as new vocabulary lists) I also got invited to the final dinner at a fancy shmancy restaurant. I was seated with her and the grad students that had helped her while getting the conference up and running - that is, at the least important table, but who cares? I had a great time and the food was fabulous. Plus I got to participate in all the toasts from the famous philosophers who came over to thank "us" all for our help with the conference - which obviously I didn't deserve, but I got free wine that way and no one felt like it was important to blow my "cover."
It was a great chance to see high-level Chinese academia in action and incredibly fun to watch them discuss/yell at each other. "Everything you said was completely empty. Ha Ha!" "Apparently you never read my book, because if you had you never would have said..." "Of course I read your book, I just didn't think that it was worthwhile to mention." Fun. Fun. The whole concept of Chinese consensus is aparently a myth for foreign (and occasionally Chinese) consumption - or at least one that wasn't intended to include crusty philosophers.
Of course, the participants have all known each other for years. Since the conference was so small, it was almost like an intimate academic party with all the of the participants reviving long-term arguments and enjoying their mutual performance of expertness. Additionally there was only one woman amongst the guys presenting papers so her presence didn't spoil the old boys' club feel of the whole thing. Even old philosophers apparently like the chance to get a "vacation" from home. Kind of like a resort for curmudgeonly philosophers without bacci and with better food than the obligatory rubber chicken.
Heading back to the university today but mostly because Lam blackmailed me into going with him so I could help him translate some of the English in his powerpoint presentation and so he won't be bored during office hours - which he hates and tries to skip as often as possible.