Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101770
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,841.00
Summary
Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secular ....Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secularism, focusing on three distinct episodes of philosophical conflict generated by Spinoza's thought from the late eighteenth century to the present. The study will make clear that secularism is not simply a social and political phenomenon, but a philosophical conundrum, thus far irresolvable.Read moreRead less
The Empire of New Idealism?: Civilisation and Australian New Idealism, 1850-1950. Philosophies, like people and commodities, travel the globe. This project traces the movement of British 'New Idealist' philosophy to Australia in the mid-nineteenth century, its transformation into 'Australian New idealism', and return to Britain. It shows how the hopes of these first Australian philosophers for a global community overlapped with politicians and policy makers, and uncovers their shaping role in th ....The Empire of New Idealism?: Civilisation and Australian New Idealism, 1850-1950. Philosophies, like people and commodities, travel the globe. This project traces the movement of British 'New Idealist' philosophy to Australia in the mid-nineteenth century, its transformation into 'Australian New idealism', and return to Britain. It shows how the hopes of these first Australian philosophers for a global community overlapped with politicians and policy makers, and uncovers their shaping role in the formulation of many social policies that remain with us today. It places Australian history and research at the heart of a new global vision of New Idealist studies and offers scholars, policy makers and educators the necessary background to more fully articulate Australian understandings of citizenship and civilisation.Read moreRead less
The Formation and Development of Chinese Philosophy as an Academic Discipline in Twentieth Century China. It is in Australia's national interest to pay close attention to the orientation of intellectual and political currents in China and to how these currents are increasingly merging and interacting. This project will enhance our capacity to interpret and engage with our regional environment by contributing to a clearer understanding of the changing relationship between Chinese intellectual tra ....The Formation and Development of Chinese Philosophy as an Academic Discipline in Twentieth Century China. It is in Australia's national interest to pay close attention to the orientation of intellectual and political currents in China and to how these currents are increasingly merging and interacting. This project will enhance our capacity to interpret and engage with our regional environment by contributing to a clearer understanding of the changing relationship between Chinese intellectual traditions and cultural identity. A commitment to understanding what Chinese philosophy means to China's educated elite also demonstrates a willingness to foster dialogue and communication that is sensitive to the intellectual and cultural traditions which are a source of pride and identity for several of our major regional partners. Read moreRead less
Critical thought in Thailand after Marxism: modern political history through ideas. This collaborative Australian-Thai project will document competing schools of critical thought that emerged in Thailand after the Cold War. Our team will map and analyse the battles of ideas that parallel political contests in the country, deepening understanding of tensions that now polarise one of Australia's most important regional neighbours.
The Buddhist roots of neo-Confucian philosophy. This project will: show for the first time how Buddhist philosophy shaped the intellectual construction of neo-Confucian philosophy; demonstrate that Chinese philosophy owes far more to its engagement with other philosophical traditions than has hitherto been demonstrated; and enable us to view Chinese philosophy as part of a global enterprise.
The Indian Roots of Modern Chinese Thought. The Project will strengthen Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with our regional and global environments by demonstrating the need for greater understanding of the nationalistic appeal that Yogâcâra thought has held for Chinese intellectuals; and the rise of New Confucianism as a philosophical movement associated with robust expressions of cultural nationalism. It will also further enhance Australia's international intellectual profile by bri ....The Indian Roots of Modern Chinese Thought. The Project will strengthen Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with our regional and global environments by demonstrating the need for greater understanding of the nationalistic appeal that Yogâcâra thought has held for Chinese intellectuals; and the rise of New Confucianism as a philosophical movement associated with robust expressions of cultural nationalism. It will also further enhance Australia's international intellectual profile by bringing together leading researchers to forge innovative research networks and methodologies to advance the knowledge bases of Chinese intellectual history, Chinese Philosophy and Buddhist Studies, and contribute to building Australian research capacity in these three key areas.Read moreRead less
Negotiating modernity: Buddhism between Tibet and China. This project will shed light on a significant aspect of modern Asian intellectual history: the appropriation of Yogacara Buddhism in Tibet and how this relates to simultaneous movements in China. The project will open up new perspectives on the distinct trajectories of modernist thought in Tibetan and Chinese cultures.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101358
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$394,105.00
Summary
Francesco Guicciardini as a Political Theorist. This project will examine the political writings of Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540), aiming to disseminate Guicciardini's political theory in the English-speaking world and establish his importance as one of the great thinkers of the European political tradition. Simultaneously, it will uncover and reassess a number of his highly original theoretical insights, many still relevant today (particularly for contemporary republicanism). Guicciardini' ....Francesco Guicciardini as a Political Theorist. This project will examine the political writings of Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540), aiming to disseminate Guicciardini's political theory in the English-speaking world and establish his importance as one of the great thinkers of the European political tradition. Simultaneously, it will uncover and reassess a number of his highly original theoretical insights, many still relevant today (particularly for contemporary republicanism). Guicciardini's political theory, in sharp contrast to that of his co-citizen and friend Machiavelli, received only limited attention, as his works were published only centuries after his death. This project will result in the first full-length monograph on the topic to appear in either English or Italian.Read moreRead less
The Intellectual Construction of Confucianism in Contemporary China and Taiwan. Since the 1980s China and Taiwan have witnessed the most sustained resurgence of intellectual interest in Confucianism of the twentieth century. This project will provide the first critical analysis of that revival by addressing the complex interaction of institutional, philosophical and ideological factors, rather than study one or the other in isolation. This will enable us to understand the processes by which Chi ....The Intellectual Construction of Confucianism in Contemporary China and Taiwan. Since the 1980s China and Taiwan have witnessed the most sustained resurgence of intellectual interest in Confucianism of the twentieth century. This project will provide the first critical analysis of that revival by addressing the complex interaction of institutional, philosophical and ideological factors, rather than study one or the other in isolation. This will enable us to understand the processes by which Chinese intellectuals have sought to make Confucianism a viable philosophical and cultural resource in the modern world; and to evaluate how successful they have been in achieving these goals.
Results: One monograph; one edited volume; several essays.
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The culture of weeds: invasion biology, identity and aesthetics in Australia. Weeds are a significant threat to Australia’s biodiversity - but when does a plant become one? Defining plants and landscapes as weedy reflects not only ecological values, but also economics, aesthetics, and national identity. The question of how and why weeds spread reveals cultural values that inform the management of all invasive species.