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 Catholic University Fu Jen Catholic University (FJU, FJCU or Fu Jen; or ) is a private Catholic university in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City, Taiwan. The university was founded in 1925 in Beijing at the request of Pope Pius XI and re-established in Taiwan in 1961 at ...

and his PhD at the

University of Louvain A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...

(UCLouvain) in 1980 on the philosophies of

Maurice Blondel Maurice Blondel (; 2 November 1861 – 4 June 1949) was a French philosopher, whose most influential works, notably ''L'Action'', aimed at establishing the correct relationship between autonomous philosophical reasoning and Christian belief. Bi ...

and

Alfred North Whitehead Alfred North Whitehead (15 February 1861 – 30 December 1947) was an English mathematician and philosopher. He is best known as the defining figure of the philosophical school known as process philosophy, which today has found applicat ...

, before returning to Taiwan to teach philosophy at the

National Chengchi University National Chengchi University () is a public research university in Taipei. The university is also considered as the earliest public service training facility of the Republic of China. First established in Nanjing in 1927, the university was subs ...

in Taipei for twenty years. He moved to Canada in 2000, where he held the Lee Chair in Chinese Thought and Culture at the

University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...

, a post shared across the Departments of East Asian Studies and Philosophy, until his death in 2018. Shen died on November 14, 2018, after suffering from a major stroke. He is survived by his wife, Joanna Liu, also a professor in the Department of East Asian Studies of the University of Toronto, a son and daughter, and grandchildren.

References

External links

Vincent Shen at the University of TorontoVincent Shen: Life and Thought
Philosophy academics University of Toronto faculty Philosophers of religion 2018 deaths 1949 births Taiwanese philosophers Philosophers of technology Heidegger scholars Philosophers of culture Fu Jen Catholic University alumni Université catholique de Louvain alumni {{reli-philo-bio-stub