EDUCATION:

Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, 10-month intensive course, graduated June 2004.

University of Hawaii at Manoa, Ph.D. in Philosophy, December 2002.

University of Tokyo, doctoral research, 2000-2002.

University of Hawaii at Manoa, M.A. in Philosophy, May 1995.

University of California at Berkeley, Courses in Philosophy, Summer 1992.

University of California at Davis, B.S. in Electrical Engineering (minor in Philosophy), December 1990.

AREAS:

Area of Specialization: Chinese Philosophy and Ethics

Areas of Competence: Asian Philosophy and Philosophy of Religion

DISSERTATION:

Title: Confucian Constructivism: A Reconstruction and Application of the Philosophy of Xunzi.

Summary:Re-translating and re-thinking key passages of the Xunzi, I challenge the tendency to treat Xunzi as a "realist," "objectivist," or "absolutist." I offer an alternative "constructivist" interpretation which sees Xunzi's Confucianism as a project of intelligently constructing social artifice with the aim of fostering a harmonious society and enabling fulfillment for its various segments. In the process, I develop interpretations of his major themes and concepts—"the way," patterns and categories, the attunement of names, ritual propriety, and character development—such that they form a philosophically defensible whole. I then use this analysis to shed light on the so-called "East-Asian challenge to human rights," arguing that East-Asian leaders have helped direct the evolution of the concept of rights in a constructive direction.

Supervisor: Roger Ames.

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:

Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, SUNY Plattsburgh, August 2006 — present.

Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, SUNY Plattsburgh, August 2005 — August 2006.

Research Fellow, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Nihon University, June 2003 — May 2005.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

SUNY Plattsburgh:
Asian Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Medical Ethics.
Chinese Philosophy, Moral Problems, Metaphysics, Social/political Philosophy.

University of Hawaii:
Teaching Assistant (Introduction to Philosophy), Spring 1999 - Fall 1999.
Teaching Assistant (Philosophy for Children Program), Spring 1997 - Fall 1998.
Freshman Seminar Leader (Introduction to Philosophy), Fall 1994.

BOOKS:

The Philosophy of Xunzi: A Reconstruction (Chicago: Open Court Press, 2007).

ARTICLES:

"Sorai and the Will of Tian," Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 5.2 (June 2006) 313-330.

"Sorai and Xunzi on the Construction of the Way," Asian Philosophy 15.2 (July 2005) 117-141.

"Patterns, Categories, and Names in the Xunzi: A Critical Review of the English Language Literature on Xunzi," Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (Nihon University) 2005, in Japanese.

"A Confucian Vision of Human Rights," Journal of Asia-Pacific Affairs 6.2 (February 2005) 1-31.

"Artifice and Virtue in the Xunzi," Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 3.1 (Winter 2003) 85-108.

"Xunzi and the Nature of Confucian Ritual," Journal of the American Academy of Religion 71.2 (June 2003) 371-403.

"Xunzi's use of Zhengming: Naming as a Constructive Project," Asian Philosophy 12.1 (March 2002) 35-51.

"The Concepts of Li and Lei in the Xunzi: Constructive Patterning of Categories," International Philosophical Quarterly 41.2 (June 2001) 183-197.

"A Critical Review of Ivanhoe on Xunzi," Journal of Chinese Philosophy 27.3 (September 2000) 361-373.

"A Chinese Critique on Western Ways of Warfare," Asian Philosophy 6.3 (November 1996) 207-217.

REVIEWS:

Review of Virtue, Nature, and Moral Agency in the Xunzi, T. C. Kline III and Philip J. Ivanhoe (eds.), in Philosophy East and West 51: 3 (July 2001) 434-440.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS and INVITED TALKS:

"Xunzi and the Patterns of 'Heaven'."
— Invited talk. Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT, January18, 2006.

"Realist and Constructivist Perspectives on Xunzi and Human Rights."
— Invited talk. Academy of Korean Studies, Seoul, Republic of Korea, August 17, 2005.

"Ogyu Sorai's Conception of 'Heaven': An Alternative to the Intentionality Thesis."
— APA Eastern Division Meeting, Boston, December 30, 2004.

"A Philosophical Defense of the East Asian Challenge to Human Rights."
— The Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, Asilomar Conference, Pacific Grove, CA, June 22, 2004.
— 8th Asian Studies Conference Japan, Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan, June 19, 2004.

"Artifice and Virtue in the Xunzi."
— 12th International Conference on Chinese Philosophy, Beijing, July 23, 2001.

"The Status of Rites and Virtues in Xunzi."
— Invited paper. Xunzi Conference, University of Michigan, March 10, 2001.

"The Concepts of Li and Lei in the Xunzi: Constructive Patterning of Categories."
— 9th Annual East-West Center Participants' Conference, Honolulu, February 9, 2000.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS:

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Fellowship, Nihon University, Japan, June 2003 - present.

Monbusho Scholarship, University of Tokyo, Japan, April 2000 - March 2002.

East-West Center Affiliate, East-West Center, Honolulu, Aug. 1997 - April 2000 and June 2002 - Dec. 2002.

Peking University Exchange Program, Peking University, Beijing, Summer 1996.

TEACHING INTERESTS:

Asian and Comparative Philosophy: From a regularly taught survey course in Asian philosophy to topical courses such as "Human Rights & Confucian Ethics."
Philosophy of Religion with cross-cultural components.
Moral Problems
Metaphysics
Social/Political Philosophy

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Classical Chinese Philosophy
Applied Epistemology
Human Rights

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

Articles reviewed for Philosophy East and West and Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

American Philosophical Association.

Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy.

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE:

Software Test Engineer, ROLM (a Siemens Company), Santa Clara, CA. February 1991 - January 1993.

Engineering Internship, Hewlett-Packard. Palo Alto, CA. Summer 1989.

Volunteer programmer and systems analyst, Beyond War Foundation and the Hunger Project. Summer 1988.

ADDITIONAL RELAVANT ACTIVITIES:

Two time member of a team of teachers and graduate students from Hawaii providing workshops on "Philosophy for Children" in a number of cities in China (Beijing, Nanjing, Zibo, Jiaozuo). 1997 & 2001.

Last Date Modified: 03/03/2008
Kurtis Hagen, e-mail: hagenkg@plattsburgh.edu