Prof. Chiu Wai-wai
Associate Professor
l Ph.D. in philosophy with 10+ years teaching and research experience in Chinese philosophy
l Area of Specialization: pre-Qin Daoism and Mohism, Wei-Jin philosophy
l Area of Competence: pre-Qin philosophy, normative ethics, epistemology
l Published in Asian Philosophy, Dao, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, Philosophy East and West
l Capable of using Putonghua, Cantonese or English as language of instruction
l Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=gaEoGXEAAAAJ&hl=en
Education Background
l Ph.D. in Philosophy, The University of New South Wales, 2009-2012
l M. Phil. in Philosophy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006-2008
Publications (Articles and Book Chapters)
Chiu, Wai wai. 2024. “The Ethics of Daoism: The Dissolving Boundary between Right and Wrong.” In Michael Hemmingsen ed., Ethical Theory in Global Perspective. SUNY Press.
____. 2024. “Guo Xiang’s conception of xing and the reconciliation of individuality with social hierarchy.” Philosophy East and West. 74 (1): 26-44.
____. 2023. “Guo Xiang’s Account of Ideal Personhood: Self-Fulfillment Without the Admiration of Sages.” Asian Philosophy. 33 (4): 377-393.
____. 2022. “The Debate over Xing in the Outer Chapters of the Zhuangzi.” Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 21 (4): 549-567.
____. 2021. “Zhuangzi’s skillfulness and uselessness.” In Tom, Angier, and Lisa Raphals ed., Skill in Ancient Ethics: Perspectives from China, Greece and Rome. Bloomsbury.
____. 2021. “Zhuangzi’s evaluation of qing and its relationship to knowledge.” Asian Philosophy 31 (3): 288-304.
____. 2019. “Skilful Performances and the Zhuangzi’s lessons on orientation.” In Lai, Karyn and Chiu, Wai wai ed., Skill and Mastery: Philosophical Stories from the Zhuangzi. Rowman and Littlefield International Limited.
____. 2019. “The Forger and the Use of Things.” In Lai, Karyn and Chiu, Wai wai ed., Skill and Mastery: Philosophical Stories from the Zhuangzi. Rowman and Littlefield International Limited.
____. 2019. “Spontaneity, Perspectivism and Anti-intellectualism in the Zhuangzi.” Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 18 (3): 393-409.
____. 2018. “Zhuangzi’s Knowing-How and Skepticism.” Philosophy East and West 68 (4): 1062-1084.
____. 2017. “Tension and Harmony: A Comment on Chenyang Li’s The Confucian Philosophy of Harmony.” Philosophy East and West 67 (1): 237-245.
____. 2016. “Zhuangzi’s idea of ‘spirit’: acting and ‘thinging things’ without self-assertion.” Asian Philosophy 26 (1): 38-51.
____. 2015. “Goblet Words and Indeterminacy.” Frontiers of Philosophy in China 10 (2): 255-272.
____. 2014. “Assessment of li in the Mencius and the Mozi.” Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 13 (2): 199-214.
Lai, Karyn and Chiu, Wai wai. 2013. “Ming in the Zhuangzi Neipian: Enlightened Engagement.” Journal of Chinese Philosophy 40 (3-4): 527-543.
Chiu, Wai wai. 2013. “Jian ai and the Mohist attack of early Confucianism.” Philosophy Compass 8 (5): 425-437.
Publications (Books edited)
Lai, Karyn and Chiu, Wai wai ed. 2019. Skill and Mastery: Philosophical Stories from the Zhuangzi. Rowman and Littlefield International Limited.
Publications (Book Reviews)
Chiu, Wai wai. 2014. “Review of Chenyang Li, The Confucian Philosophy of Harmony.” Sophia 53(4): 579-580.
Conference Presentations
Chiu, Wai wai. “Zhuangzi’s Knowledge and Its Evaluation of qing.” Presented at the 21st International Conference of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy, Bern, 2-5 July 2019.
____. “Zhuangzi and anti-intellectualism.” Presented at the 20th International Conference of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy, Singapore, 4-7 July 2017.
____. “Zhuangzi’s knowing-how and skepticism.” Presented at 2nd Singapore-Hong Kong Symposium on Chinese Philosophy, Hong Kong, 29-30 Apr 2016; International Conference on the Contemporary Significance of Zhuangzi’s Philosophy, Taipei, 2-4 Oct 2015.
____. “Filial piety in the Zhuangzi－‘let the parents forget you’.” Presented at the 19th International Conference of the International Society for Chinese Philosophy, Hong Kong, 21-24 July 2015.
____. “Zhuangzi’s Idea of Spirit and Nourishment of Life.” Presented at the 1st Singapore-Hong Kong Symposium on Chinese Philosophy, Singapore, 13-14 Mar 2015.
____. “Zhuangzi’s idea of ‘spirit’: Self, thinging things and the nourishment of life.” Presented at Tunghai University Conference: Mind and Nature in Chinese Philosophy, Taichung, 25-26 Apr 2014.
____. “Zhuangzi and the Co-existence with Nature: Going Beyond a Human Perspective.” Presented at the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy 2011 Annual Conference,
____. “The Critique of Benefit in the Mencius and Mozi.” Presented at Tenth East-West Philosophers’ Conference,
____. “Zhuangzi’s ‘Cheng Xin’ As a Challenge to the Correspondence Theory of Knowledge.” Presented at Australasian Association of Philosophy Conference 2010,
____. “A Critique of ‘Neutral’ Knowledge in the Zhuangzi.” Presented at APA Pacific Division 84th Annual Meeting,
____. “A problem of translation in ‘Interpreting Chinese by Western Methodology’.” Presented at the
____. “A Cultural View with Philosophy in Its Centre.” Presented at
Grants Received
Project title: Nature and Self-cultivation in the Zhuangzi and the Commentary on the Zhuangzi
Funded by: Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Duration: 1 Jan 2022 – 31 Dec 2022
Amount: $99, 209 HKD
Project title: Zhuangzi’s conception of Knowledge
Funded by: Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Duration: 1 Jan 2017 – 31 Dec 2018
Amount: $173, 000 HKD
Research Work in Progress
“Following and acquiring xing in the Outer Chapters.” Journal article.
“Evaluation of knowledge in the Commentary.” Journal article.
“Attaining self-knowledge in the Commentary.” Journal article.
“Morality and xing in the Commentary.” Journal article.
Teaching and Administrative Experience
Assistant Professor, Associate Professor Aug 2014—
Department of Philosophy, Lingnan University
l Course Taught:
n History of Chinese Philosophy (from pre-Qin to Han), around 30-40 students
n History of Chinese Philosophy (from Wei to Ming), around 10-20 students
n The Philosophy of Mozi, around 15 students
n The Philosophy of Zhuangzi, around 20 students
n Chinese Political Philosophy, around 30-40 students
n Chinese Ethics, around 20-30 students
n Introduction to Chinese Thought, around 10-20 students
n Understanding Morality, around 30 students
n [MA programme] Guided Studies: Zhuangzi, around 20 students
l Administrative Duties:
n Programme Promotion Committee Coordinator (2020-2023), Member (2023-2024)
n Undergraduate Admissions Committee Chair (2020—), Member (2019)
n Programme Admissions Officer (2020-2021)
n Faculty Admissions Coordinator (2019)
n Chairperson of Staff-Student Consultation Committee for Year 1 BA students (2015-2019)
n MA in Practical Philosophy Programme Programme Director (2015-2019), Assistant Programme Director (2014-2015)
n Coordinator of Chinese, History and Philosophy Interdisciplinary Major (2015—)
n Information Day Coordinator (2014-2019)
n Department Seminar Coordinator (2014-2017)
Awards
l Outstanding Teaching Award for Early Career Faculty (Lingnan University), Nov 2016
Community Services
l HKDSE subject committee member (Liberal Studies), Oct 2014 – Sept 2020
l HKDSE subject committee member (Ethics and Religion Studies), Oct 2021 – Sept 2024