Rituals of the Way: The Philosophy of Xunzi

Rating:
Summary: Especially for students of Chinese philosophy
Review: Rituals Of The Way: The Philosophy Of Xunzi by Paul Rakita Goldin (Assistant Professor of Chinese Thought, University of Pennsylvania) is an original study of Chinese philosophy in general, and Confucian dilemmas, as addressed by classic Xunzi text, attributed to and named after the philosopher Xun Kuang (ca. 310-ca. 210 B.C.), in particular. Individual chapters look at what the wisdom of this ancient text offers concerning self-cultivation, the mind, the nature of Heaven, ritual and music, language and "The Way". Numerous excerpts, presented both in the original Chinese and in English translation, are quoted in this interpretational work which deeply profound and highly recommended, especially for students of Chinese philosophy.

Rating:
Summary: Originality? Interpretation?
Review: The number of books dealing with Xunzi's philosophy is regrettably small, considering the weight and rigor of his ideas. There are entries by A.S. Cua, Edward J. Machle, and Masayuki Sato focusing on particular elements of Xunzi's thought, an anthology by Ivanhoe and Kline on his ethical theory, and Goldin's book. Of these, the anthology (_Virtue, Nature, and Moral Agency in the Xunzi_) is the only one I'd recommend. Goldin is a very attentive and detailed sinologist, but after reading his (slim) volume I had to ask, What had I learned? Most of the book is pure summary; where interpretive disagreements have arisen in the past, Goldin tosses around the opposing ideas and then moves on without too much fuss. I was unable to locate a single new interpretation or original idea in the book. The one interesting point is an extended passage on game theory, which Goldin uses to explain Xunzi's understanding of ritual. Insofar as it amounts to "let's harmonize, or we all suffer", Goldin's exposition is hardly more than banal common sense. Get this book if you need a quick introduction, but you could probably get more insight by just reading a few chapters of the Xunzi itself.