Academic Activities

Human Rights and East Asian Philosophy: 75 Years after Universal Declaration

Conference, M.A. in Ethics and Public Affairs

Human Rights and East Asian Philosophy: 75 Years after Universal Declaration
9 JAN 2024 10 JAN 2024

Date

09 - 10 Jan 2024

Time

09:30 - 18:00

Location

SWT 501, Council Chamber, Shaw Tower, Shaw Campus, HKBU + zoom

Language

English

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Centre for Applied Ethics will host a workshop on human rights and East Asian philosophy. This event aims to delve into topics such as the justification of human rights within Chinese cultural traditions, the contributions of cultural traditions to the discourse on specific human rights and how various theories have shaped our understanding of human rights.

Conference Proceedings
Join Online via zoom

Zoom Meeting ID: 954 2157 8988
Passcode: 752612
Zoom link: https://hkbu.zoom.us/j/95421578988?pwd=cDVKMVpZb1lmUVBTYVEza1pKdHZaUT09

Day 1 Conference：9/1/2024 (Tuesday)
Time
Opening Ceremony

Chairperson: Baldwin B. W. WONG

09:30-09:45

Welcoming Speeches
  • Prof. Stuart CHRISTIE, Executive Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts; Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, HKBU

  • Dr. KWOK Wai Luen, Head, Department of Religion and Philosophy; Research Fellow, Centre for Applied Ethics, HKBU

  • Dr. Benedict S. B. CHAN, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts; Associate Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy; Director, Centre for Applied Ethics, HKBU
     
Group Photo
Time
Session 1: Confucianism and Human Rights
 
Chairperson: James ROONEY

09:45-10:05

1. Sungmoon KIM, The City University of Hong Kong

“Confucian Dignity and Political Rights”

10:05-10:25

2. Stephen ANGLE, Wesleyan University

“Does Confucian Citizenship Require (a Right to) Political Participation?”

10:25-10:45

3. LI Chenyang, Nanyang Technological University

“Confucian Strong Harmony and Human Rights”

10:45-11:15

Discussion

11:15-11:30

Break

Time
Session 2: Individual and Group Rights in East Asia
 
Chairperson: Ann Gillian CHU

11:30-11:50

4.  Alexus MCLEOD, Indiana University

“Illness and Respect for Persons in the Zhuangzi”

11:50-12:10

5.  Baldwin B. W. WONG, Hong Kong Baptist University

“A Confucian Strong View of Free Speech: From Wang Yangming’s Perspective”

12:10-12:30

6.  Siu Fu TANG, The University of Hong Kong

“Group Rights and Individual Rights: A Confucian Perspective”

12:30-13:00

Discussion

13:00-14:45

Break

Time
Session 3: Human Development, Positive Rights and Human Rights
 
Chairperson: Mark BOONE

14:45-15:05

7.  Eric PALMER, Allegheny College

“Positive Human Rights” 

15:05-15:25

8.  Lori KELEHER, New Mexico State University 

Human Dignity in Human Rights and Human Development”

15:25-15:45

9.  Jay DRYDYK, Carleton University 

“Human Rights without Ideals: A Capability Approach”

15:45-16:15

Discussion

16:15-16:30

Break

Time
Session 4: Human Rights in East Asian Traditions
 
Chairperson: Kevin J. TURNER

16:30-16:50

10.  JIN Yutang, The University of Hong Kong

“Yin Haiguang, Freedom, and Chinese Culture: The Value of Liberal Democracy in the Sinophone Context” 

16:50-17:10

11.  Ellen Y. ZHANG, The University of Macau 

“Human Dignity and Human Rights: A Reflection from Buddhism”

17:10-17:30

12.  Elton CHAN, Lingnan University 

“Universal Love as Insurance against Misfortune: A Mohist Justification for Universal Human Right to Distributive Justice”

17:30-18:00

Discussion

Day 2 Conference：10/1/2024 (Wednesday)

 

Time
Session 5: Confucianism, Individualism and Legal Moralism

Chairperson: Levi CHECKETTS

09:30-09:50

13.  May SIM, College of Holy Cross

“Early Confucian Resources for Human Rights” 

09:50-10:10

14.  YU Kam Por, Cambodia University of Technology and Science

“Confucian Reception and Conception of Human Rights”

10:10-10:30

15.  KWAN Kai Man, Hong Kong Baptist University

“The Right Not to be Legally Prohibited & the Harm Principle──Revisiting the Hart-Devlin Debate”

10:30-11:00

Discussion

11:00-11:30

Break

Time
Session 6: Human Rights in East Asia: Past and Future

Chairperson: KWAN Kai Man

11:30-11:50

16.  Eric S. NELSON, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

“Hu Shi, Zhang Junmai, and the Modern Archaics of Human Rights in Republican China” 

11:50-12:10

17. Benedict S. B. CHAN, Hong Kong Baptist University

“Exploring Human Rights and Confucianism: A Non-Orthodox and Consequentialist Perspective”

12:10-12:30

Discussion

12:30-14:30

Break

Time
Session 7: International Human Rights in East Asia

Chairperson: Ahti-Veikko PIETARINEN

14:30-14:50

18.  Shaun O’DWYER, Kyushu University
“Overcoming Confucianism’s Reputational Deficit in Human Rights Discourse: Peng-chun Chang and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”

14:50-15:10

19.  Levi CHECKETTS, Hong Kong Baptist University 

“Can a Confucian Culture Vindicate the Violated Rights of the Comfort Women?”

15:10-15:30

Discussion

15:30-15:50

Break

Time
Session 8: Epistemic Rights

Chairperson: Andrew LOKE

15:50-16:10

20.  KWOK Chi, Lingnan University

“Epistemic Rights: A Confucian Perspective”  

16:10-16:30

21.  WONG Pak Hang, Hong Kong Baptist University 

“Epistemic Rights as Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Confucian Perspective?”

16:30-16:50

Discussion

16:50-17:00

Break

Time
Closing Ceremony
 
Chairperson: Benedict S. B. CHAN

17:00-17:15

Closing Remarks
  • Dr. KWOK Wai Luen, Head, Department of Religion and Philosophy; Research Fellow, Centre for Applied Ethics, HKBU
  • Dr. Benedict S. B. CHAN, Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts; Associate Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy; Director, Centre for Applied Ethics, HKBU
  • Dr. Baldwin B. W. WONG, Assistant Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy; Research Fellow, Centre for Applied Ethics, HKBU