Chi-keung Chan 陳志強 is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at National Taiwan University. His research focuses on Song-Ming Neo-Confucianism, Confucian ethics, comparative philosophy, and interdisciplinary studies, especially moral psychology and embodied cognition.
For recent publications, see: https://philpeople.org/profiles/chi-keung-chan
What excites you about philosophy?
From a young age, I found myself struggling with existential questions—who I am, how to live a good life, how to relate to others, and how to find my place in the world. Philosophy offered me a clear and rational way of engaging with these concerns, and even now I continue to find in it both guidance for living and inspiration for research. My own specialty is Chinese philosophy, which the contemporary thinker Mou Zongsan described as the “learning of life.” At its heart, Chinese philosophy emphasizes practical wisdom and the ideal of self-transformation, a focus that has always deeply resonated with me. Beyond philosophy as a way of life, I am also inspired by its intellectual dimension. Ancient Chinese texts often present striking or puzzling claims; clarifying them and showing how they resonate with lived experience brings a unique sense of joy and discovery.
What are you working on right now?
I am currently working on an affective, perceptual, embodied, and relational interpretation of Confucian philosophy, with distinct emphases on ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology. On the metaphysical side, I argue that things, the self, and the mind are not isolated or independent entities, but are inherently interconnected. On the ethical side, I emphasize that moral life is not primarily a matter of rational, inner reflective judgment between right and wrong, but is instead grounded in affective resonance and relational interconnectedness. From the epistemological perspective, I am rethinking what it means to know by exploring how knowing itself can be affective and perceptual in nature, rather than merely reflective or propositional. More broadly, my research situates Chinese philosophy—especially Confucian thought—within comparative and interdisciplinary conversations, bringing it into dialogue with moral psychology and embodied cognition to enrich contemporary philosophical discussions.
What topic do you think is underexplored in philosophy?
As a scholar specializing in Chinese philosophy, I believe that Chinese philosophy, and non-Western philosophy more broadly, remains underexplored and underrepresented in mainstream philosophical discourse. Themes such as the unity and interdependence of all things, the paradoxical style of expression in conveying insight, the role of silence as a mode of philosophical communication, the practices and methods of self-cultivation, and the spiritual or transcendent dimensions of metaphysics and ethics are just a few areas with real potential to engage in meaningful dialogue with contemporary philosophy. Yet when we look at leading philosophy journals, it is still rare to find work that explicitly engages with Chinese philosophical traditions.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
One of the greatest compliments I have ever received came from one of my dearest teachers, Dr. Yeung, Kwok Wing Anthony 楊國榮, who once described me as an authentic person. To this day, I remain proud of having stayed true to myself—authentic and faithful to who I am. In Chinese terms, I think of my greatest accomplishment as preserving the “chìzǐ zhī xīn” (赤子之心), the pure childlike heart-mind characterized by sincerity, openness, and integrity.
Name a trait, skill, or characteristic that you have that others may not know about.
Contrary to the impression I sometimes give to others, I am actually a rather lazy and undisciplined person. I still remember the days, not so long ago, when I would sleep until noon and linger in bed before finally getting up for a late lunch or even afternoon tea. Oddly enough, this side of me also brought out a knack for finding clever shortcuts—along with a bit of luck—in finding efficient ways to get things done and, fortunately, in helping me overcome many challenges along the way.
What do you like to do outside of work?
As a husband and father of two, what I enjoy most outside of work is spending time with my family. Seeing the genuine smiles and happiness of my loved ones, and building treasured memories with them, gives me a deep sense of accomplishment and joy, much like my work does. It’s not only about traveling or going out together—even the simple, everyday moments, like watching my children sleep at night, bring me a profound sense of fulfillment and contentment.
Where is your favorite place you have ever traveled and why?
One of my favorite places I have ever lived and traveled is Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, where I spent two memorable years with my family as a visiting scholar. It was an ideal environment for my academic work and career development, offering countless opportunities to step outside my comfort zone and connect with diverse and inspiring people. The city’s rich history and cultural traditions, wonderful food, and abundance of cultural and natural sites made it a joy to explore with my family during our free time. It was also a very family- and child-friendly place, where we all enjoyed a truly happy and fulfilling life together. I once heard that living in Cambridge is like living in a “bubble”—a place so beautiful that one might forget about the harsher realities of the outside world. Although I no longer live there, I treasure those “bubble-like” memories and remain grateful to carry that sense of beauty with me in my heart.
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Jessica Castellani
Jessica Castellani had a unique high school experience attending Toledo School for the Arts, where she played in a percussion ensemble and steel drum band for six years. She earned her dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Religious Studies from the University of Toledo. Her primary focus was ‘the Self’ and the mystical experience of losing it. She earned her Master of Art in Philosophy from the University of Toledo as well, with a specialization in Comparative Philosophy, Eastern Studies, and Continental Philosophy. She has taught World Religions and Introduction to Philosophy at The University of Toledo both in person and virtually. She is a member of the Buddhist Temple of Toledo, tutors students, and has worked in the service industry for over a decade. In her free time likes to spend time outside and with her pets, friends, and family.
