Dr. James Sellmann, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Guam, showcases the book he co-edited, Living Confucianisms: Strategies for Optimizing Harmony. Sellmann is also a professor of Philosophy and Micronesian Studies at UOG. He has published more than 110 articles in peer-reviewed books and journals. He has a doctorate in Chinese philosophy from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. (Photo courtesy of University of Guam)
A book on Confucian practices co-edited by University of Guam College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Dean James D. Sellmann has been published by Rowman and Littlefield.
The book, Living Confucianisms: Strategies for Optimizing Harmony, explores how insights from Confucian philosophy can help build bridges of dialogue in the 21st century.
The idea for the book stemmed from a conference held by the World Consortium for Research in Confucian Cultures at Bond University in Australia before the pandemic. Participants addressed the question of how Confucianism could “help unify the world, create world peace, create a different kind of world order that isn’t based on law, but based on virtue,” Sellmann said.
Confucianism, with its focus on social, political and environmental harmony, has been practiced in China for more than 2,000 years, and Confucian traditions have continued to evolve over time.
The book features a collection of essays by authors from diverse academic fields and cultural backgrounds, with each chapter focusing on a different aspect of Confucian philosophy.
In addition to co-editing the anthology, Sellmann contributed the essay “Confucian Political Philosophy as an Organic Contract Theory.” He examined the differences between western political theory, with its focus on the rights of the individual, and Confucian philosophy, with its focus on the well-being of the community. He noted the differing philosophies are reflected in the constitutional traditions of China and the United States, and that these different traditions “could learn from each other.”
“The main focus of Confucius was that the government should be run by virtuous people, who would love and benefit the people and not be concerned about punishment so much,” he said.
Sellmann edited the book while working from home during the pandemic. But he said with ongoing conflicts and regional tensions, the book’s subtitle, “Strategies for Optimizing Harmony,” is even more relevant today.
“We should be thinking about optimizing harmony, since we are on the brink of going to war, or actually involved in wars.”
Sellmann has served as Dean of College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences for 15 years and is also a professor of Philosophy and Micronesian Studies at UOG. He has published more than 110 articles in peer-reviewed books and journals. He has a doctorate in Chinese philosophy from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Living Confucianisms: Strategies for Optimizing Harmony is available here.
