Thomé H. Fang (, 1899–1977) was a Chinese philosopher. He was described by

Charles A. Moore Charles Alexander Moore (March 11, 1901 – April 1967) was an American philosopher, historian, sinologist, and writer. He was a professor of comparative philosophy at the University of Hawaii. Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois on ...

as the "greatest philosopher of China" and by

Vincent Shen Vincent Shen (1949-2018) was a philosopher known for his work in Chinese philosophy and in the comparative dialogue between Western and Chinese thought. Biography Born in Taiwan in 1949, Shen completed his undergraduate studies at Fu Jen Catholi ...

as "one of the most creative contemporary Chinese philosophers."

Biography

Thomé H. Fang was born on 9 February 1899 (according to the Lunar Calendar) of a family in Tongcheng,

Anhui Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...

, China, that was known for producing prominent scholars, thinkers, and men of letters in Chinese classics, including several Royal Tutors at the Imperial Palace during the Ming and Qing Dynasties (such as Fang Gongcheng,

Fang Guancheng Fang Guancheng () (1696 or 1698–1768), also known as Yi Tian (宜田), was a Chinese Noble and government official of the Qing Dynasty, notable for being the Viceroy of Zhili. Early life and family origins Fang Guancheng was born in Tongcheng ...

, etc.). Thomé H. Fang was the 16th generation descendant of

Fang Bao Fang Bao (; 25 May 1668 – 29 September 1749), courtesy names Fengjiu (), Linggao (), and Wangxi (), was a Chinese nobleman, courtier, orator, philosopher, poet, scholar, author and government official in the service of the Qing dynasty. He is b ...

, a Qing dynasty scholar and one of the founders of the Tongcheng School, and a relative of his contemporary

Fang Chih Fang Chih or Fang Zhi (; 23 November 1895 – 28 March 1989), courtesy name: Xikong (希孔), was a politician, provincial governor, diplomat, author and a high-ranking Kuomintang official of the Republic of China. Family history and early l ...

, a Chinese diplomat. He was taught the Chinese classics while he was young, and later studied at Jinlin University in Nanjing, where he took courses from

John Dewey John Dewey (; October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. He was one of the most prominent American scholars in the f ...

on ancient Western philosophy. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and completed an MA in philosophy and pursued a doctorate comparing British and American realism. From 1925 to 1948, Thomé H. Fang taught at several universities in China, mostly at the

National Central University National Central University (NCU, ; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: ''Kwet-li̍p Chung-yong Thài-ho̍k'', Wade–Giles: ''Kuo2 Li4 Chung Yang Ta4 Hsüeh2'' or ''中大'', ''Chung-ta'') is a public research university with long-standing traditions based in Taiwa ...

(later renamed

Nanjing University Nanjing University (NJU; ) is a national public research university in Nanjing, Jiangsu. It is a member of C9 League and a Class A Double First Class University designated by the Chinese central government. NJU has two main campuses: the Xianl ...

and reinstated in

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

), in

Nanjing Nanjing (; , Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Nanking, is the capital of Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city, a megacity, and the second largest city in the East China region. T ...

and

Chongqing Chongqing ( or ; ; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), Postal Romanization, alternately romanized as Chungking (), is a Direct-administered municipalities of China, municipality in Southwes ...

. Then he taught at

National Taiwan University National Taiwan University (NTU; ) is a public research university in Taipei, Taiwan. The university was founded in 1928 during Japanese rule as the seventh of the Imperial Universities. It was named Taihoku Imperial University and served d ...

Works

* ''Chinese Philosophy: Its Spirit and Its Development'', Linking Publishing Co., Ltd, Taipei, 1981, 1986 * ''The Chinese View of Life: The Philosophy of Comprehensive Harmony'', Linking Publishing Co., Ltd., Taipei, 1980, 1981, 1986 * ''Creativity in Man and Nature: A Collection of Philosophical Essays'', Linking Publishing Co., Ltd., Taipei, 1980, 1983 * ''Chinese Philosophy: Its Spirit and Its Development'', Linking Publishing Co., Ltd., Taipei, 1981, 1981, 1986 * ''Philosophy of Life, Creativity, and Inclusiveness'', * ''Three Types of Philosophical Wisdom'' (Zhexue san hui-哲學三慧), 重慶版時事新報學燈,26 June 1983. * ''Primordial Confucianism and Taoism'' (Yuan Shi Ru Jia Dao Jia Zhe Xue-原始儒家道家哲學), Taipei, 1983. * ''Chinese Mahayana Buddhism'' (Chung Guo Da Zheng Fo Xue-中國大乘佛學), Taipei, 1984. * ''Neo-Confucianism in Sung, Ming and Ch'ing Periods'' (Xin Ru Jia Zhe Xue shipa jiang-新儒家哲學十八講)), Taipei, 1983.

References

External links

Thomé H. Fang Institute: articles of Thomé H. Fang
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fang, Thome H. 20th-century Chinese philosophers Chinese Confucianists University of Nanking alumni Academic staff of the National Central University Academic staff of the National Taiwan University Taiwanese philosophers 1899 births 1977 deaths People from Tongcheng, Anhui Educators from Anhui Taiwanese educators Philosophers from Anhui Chinese spiritual writers Taiwanese academics 20th-century Chinese essayists Writers from Anhui Taiwanese people from Anhui