What was de Bary's central idea on East Asian thought?
My central conviction was that East Asian traditions, especially Neo-Confucianism, offered profound insights into human flourishing, moral cultivation, and social order that were not only historically significant but also possessed enduring relevance. I argued that these traditions represented distinct, yet often complementary, approaches to universal human concerns. Understanding them requires approaching them on their own terms, appreciating their internal coherence and moral aspirations, rather than through anachronistic Western lenses.
Ask Wm. Theodore de Bary the follow-up →