Understanding Philosophy and Religion in Early China
Thu Apr 13, 2:30 PM - Thu Apr 13, 3:30 PM

Understanding Philosophy and Religion in Early China
April 13, 2:30-3:30 pm
Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
$15 | 941-309-5111 • olliringlingcollege.org
It is often said that China has one of the oldest philosophical traditions in the early world, even rivaling that of the ancient Greeks. But what exactly do we mean when we talk about Chinese philosophy? And how is it different from Chinese religion? This lecture by Matthew Wells will attempt to explain how early Chinese thinkers approached these categories—absent many of the assumptions we take for granted in the modern Western world, focusing on the so-called “Three Teachings” of Confucianism, Daoism (Taoism), and Buddhism. Wells received his doctorate in Chinese from the University of Oregon in 2006. He is currently working on a translation and study of early Daoist hagiographies from the 4th century. For the past two years, he has been the research director of the Elling Eide Center, a non-profit research library in Sarasota dedicated to the study of early China.