Research on Later Greek Philosophy in Chinese Academic Circles

In recent years, Chinese scholars have made important progress in research on later Greek philosophy. Using current European and American work as a reference point, this article explores the differences and gaps between foreign and Chinese scholars in this field of research. The author believes that on the question of the boundaries of later Greek philosophy, Chinese scholars have, through long years of exploration, come up with independent opinions and solutions that differ from those of their European and Ameriean counterparts, and that they have a better grasp of the distinctive features of later Greek philosophy. Their work, however, clearly falls short with regard to historical source material. As far as methodology is concerned, there is a clear tendency towards convergence between Chinese scholars and their foreign colleagues.

The Logic of Incarnation： Hegel＇s Use of Plato＇s Philebus in the Shorter Logic and in the Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion

Hegel uses Plato＇s classical text, Philebus, in two of his most important texts, the so called Shorter Logics, the first part of the famous Encyclopedia of Philosophical Sciences and in The Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion. The aim of this article is to analyze how can this two references be read together as to form a relationship between logic and religion in the very heart of Hegelian philosophy. In the first case, Hegel analyzes Plato＇s text within the context of his Doctrine of Being, specially from §§ 89 to 95, which deal with the question of determinate being. In The Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion, on the other hand, the reference appears in the 1824 Lectures in a particularly complex chapter called ＂The Transition to the Speculative Standpoint of Religion,＂ in which Hegel affirms not only that such a speculative standpoint is the only one in which religion can be truly grasped, but also that the Christian concept of ＂incarnation of God＂ is the ＂speculative midpoint＂ of religion. It will be argued, therefore, that the ontological question of determination and actuality, as exposed in the Shorter Logics, is fundamental to the metaphysics of Christian Religion as Hegel understands it not only in his Philosophy of Religion, but arguably in his whole philosophy.

In Quest for Virtue:Learning From a Great Tradition

The founding Greek vision on virtue/areté(άρέτη)offers a significant pathway to continuously reflect upon and understand,to activate and improve our own potential in promoting human well-being.It eventually leads to the value of wisdom in life,so much needed in tumultuous times of the current multilevel crisis;the moral one deeply affecting but also challenging to problem-solving the individual and society alike in the context of the axiological disarray we have to deal with.Highlighting the aretelogical approach as it has been developed from the Presocratics to the Hellenistic philosophers sustains the effort of comprehending the necessity of virtue in reaching and experiencing human well-being;hence the invitation to(re)learn from a great philosophical tradition focusing on the ethical nucleus-value articulated through the ancient“cardinal virtues”and that persisted over the centuries till the nowadays’“technomoral virtues”.We aim to raise awareness about the royal way of virtue by exploring and appropriating its meaning worth to be constantly disclosed for an authentic human life enlightened by the ideal of eudaimonίa(εύδαιμονία).