Yanrui Chong was born in Jining, China, the hometown of Confucius. He is studying abroad at Seoul National University and is pursuing his M.A. in philosophy. His research focuses on the nature of rationality and the disputations between the reasons-first theory and fittingness-first theory in epistemology, metaethics, and the philosophy of normativity.
What are you working on right now?
This month, I am writing a paper on the Wrong Kind of Reason Problem and an essay on Nietzsche’s metaethics.
If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future, or anything else, what would you want to know?
I want to know if there is an afterlife and what the afterlife is like. When my mentor, Wooram Lee, asked me about what I have a pure curiosity for, I pondered for a moment and replied that I have a pure curiosity about the afterlife. Living in a secular society, I cannot find an answer to this question through natural science. Perhaps as a philosopher, the best I can do is seek rational, a priori (non-suicidal), and conceptual solutions. However, if there were a crystal ball that could resolve this ultimate existential perplexity, I would undoubtedly and without hesitation ask the crystal ball about the afterlife of human beings.
Moreover, because I witnessed my mother’s death at a very young age, although I did not understand what death was at that time, this event may be the reason I chose philosophy. Karl Jaspers talked about “limit situations,” which in my case led me to face the abyss of despair regarding the limitations of human existence and complete a leap towards the essence of existence itself. So, crystal ball, I want to know about the world where my mother resides.
What’s your personal philosophy?
I haven’t written a paper on my personal philosophy yet, but I have some ideas. For example, in my epistemology, the origin of epistemology is skepticism, and my main goal is to address skepticism. I have two approaches to this. The first one is Skeptical Permissivism. I agree with Timothy Williamson that we shouldn’t take skepticism too seriously. Even if the world is a virtual game or if we are brains in a vat, it doesn’t have any practical impact on us. I still take the bus daily and feel the Earth’s gravitational pull. So, a permissive stance towards skepticism is viable, similar to Pyrrhonism’s epoché.
The other approach is Epistemological Contractualism, which is based on the parallel relationship between ethics and epistemology, extending contractualism from ethical responses to teleology to epistemology. In Epistemological Contractualism, knowledge is contract (K=C). Our response to skepticism is also rooted in our natural contract with our understanding of the world, similar to the scientific consensus within a scientific community.
And my philosophical methodology involves placing limitations on unrestricted thought experiments. Some thought experiments have surpassed common sense, and for philosophy to be closer to reality, it is necessary to set limits on the extent of thought experiments. Without limits, the reliability of philosophy is significantly compromised.
My passion for gourmet cuisine is immense, and I often indulge in creating delicious dishes. I believe that gourmet cuisine can be an object of phenomenological study. Simply tasting food involves a fusion of visual colors, aromatic smells, textures felt in the mouth, sensations experienced on the tongue, sounds produced while chewing, the collision between teeth and food, and all the sensory movements of the human experience. It is a phenomenological feast encompassing all our senses. Considering the preparation and appreciation of gourmet cuisine becomes a vast field of culinary phenomenology.
Who is your favorite philosopher and why?
The answer to this question has been different at different stages. First, it was Descartes, because I liked mathematics. Later on, I became fond of Quine. I found his writing style affable, and I admired his ability to specialize in several languages, deliver presentations, and write books in those languages. Ultimately, my greatest admiration goes to the Korean-American philosopher Jaegwon Kim, considered one of the most outstanding analytic philosophers of the twentieth century. South Korea has produced many exceptional philosophers, like my mentor, Wooram Lee, and Professor Nam-In Lee. Through their actions, they have shown me that non-native speakers can excel in western philosophy and reach the pinnacle of the field. I hope my homeland, China, can produce world-class Western philosophers like Jaegwon Kim. That is my goal.
What books are currently on your ‘to read’ list?
Recently, I came across two philosophical books on the topic of time travel, and they seem very interesting. I’m planning to read them. One is Time Travel: Probability and Impossibility by Nikk Effingham, and the other is Paradoxes of Time Travel by Ryan Wasserman.
Where would you go in a time machine?
According to the Big Bang theory and the Big Crunch theory, our universe will one day contract back to the state it was in before the Big Bang. Therefore, I plan to examine the Big Bang theory before the Big Crunch concludes. I also wonder how future generations, if humanity and historical records persist, will document the history of the twenty-first century (a topic I often contemplate during the pandemic while staying at home). If the physical state of matter after the next Big Bang is the same as during the previous one, perhaps Nietzsche’s concept of eternal recurrence will transcend mere thought experiments.
What technology do you wish the human race could discover/create/invent right now?
With the current maturity of AI language models, it is now possible to collect the language or consciousness of deceased loved ones to achieve a form of immortality and communication with the departed. In my view, this is a technology that demonstrates care and compassion.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would you most like it to be?
If I woke up and found myself speaking English as fluently as my native language.
What’s your most treasured memory?
Participating in this interview, and thanks to voulnteer Lex LaBar for the invitation.
What do you like to do outside work?
I go on trips or stay home to watch dramas, movies, YouTube, or podcasts.
This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend.
Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.
