Book Discussion: A Confucian Theory of Power

In the book's lead essay, Sungmoon Kim offers a comprehensive analysis of Confucian power. Through a blend of philosophical, political, and historical analysis, Kim challenges the dominant idea that Confucianism is primarily centred on virtue ethics. Instead, he argues that Confucianism perceives power through the prism of responsibility. Kim not only traces this perspective throughout history but also demonstrates its relevance to contemporary society. He contrasts this Confucian perspective with Western political theory's view of power as control.

In the book, political theorists and philosophers offer essay responding to Sungmoon Kim's provocation, offering a dialogue approach to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Confucian conception of power.

Speaker: Sungmoon Kim, Chair Professor of Political Philosophy, City University of Hong Kong.

Commentators: 

Nicholas Barber, Professor of Constitutional Law and Theory, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford. 

Ngoc Son Bui, Professor of Asian Laws, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford. 

Andrew Harding, Visiting Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford.

Moderator: Natasha Holcroft-Emmess, Departmental Lecturer in Law, Faculty of Law, University of Oxford.