For more than two thousand years, the writings of the Confucian philosopher Mengzi have been a source of guidance and inspiration for those set on doing something to improve the state of the world. Doing What You Really Want: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mengzi presents a coherent, systematic, and accessible explanation of Mengzi’s philosophy. The book covers everything from the place of human beings in nature, to human psychology and philosophy of emotions, to the various ways in which we can deliberately change and cultivate ourselves. Mengzi was concerned not just with theory but also effective action. Perkins thus includes a collection of practical advice and a Confucian analysis of politics oriented toward how individuals can make a difference in the world. These topics are integrated around Mengzi’s philosophy as a way of life dedicated to changing the world, providing an alternative approach for understanding the contemporary relevance of Confucianism. Mengzi offers theoretical and practical resources valuable for anyone concerned about integrating efforts to improve the world with personal fulfillment and a sense of belonging.
Franklin Perkins is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and is editor of the journal Philosophy East and West. Before coming to UH, he taught at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and at DePaul University (Chicago), where he was Director of the Chinese Studies Program. Perkins is the author of Leibniz and China: A Commerce of Light, Leibniz: A Guide for the Perplexed, Heaven and Earth are not Humane: The Problem of Evil in Classical Chinese Philosophy, and most recently, Doing What You Really Want: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mengzi (Oxford University Press, 2021). His books have been translated into Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese.
Jim Behuniak is Professor of Philosophy at Colby College. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Hawai`i in 2002. He is the author of John Dewey and Daoist Thought: Experiments in Intra-Cultural Philosophy, Vol. 1, John Dewey and Confucian Thought: Experiments in Intra-Cultural Philosophy, Vol. 2 (both SUNY Press, 2019), and Mencius on Becoming Human (SUNY Press, 2005). He is editor of Appreciating the Chinese Difference: Engaging Roger T. Ames on Methods, Issues, and Roles (SUNY Press, 2018).
George Tsai is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hawaii. His interests are primarily in moral and political philosophy, and, more recently, early Chinese philosophy. His research has focused on the moral complexity of relationships, and he has written on topics including rational persuasion, gratitude, blame, being supportive, paternalism, exploitation, global justice, and the state’s powers of communication and taxation. He has been a Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for Advanced at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the School of Philosophy at the Australian National University.
UHM Department of Philosophy
