Episode 24: Robber Zhi—Honor Among Thieves?
About this episode
The episode discusses the philosophical implications of the 'Robber Zhi Dialogue' featuring Confucius and the anti-hero Robber Zhi.
With a big assist from our guest, Stephen C. Walker, we discuss a highly unusual philosophical dialogue in classical Chinese literature, the "Robber Zhi Dialogue" (from the Miscellaneous Chapters of the Zhuangzi). This shocking story shows Confucius attempting to convince the story's anti-hero (Robber Zhi) to give up his vicious ways. By the end of the story, Confucius emerges as the more naive and inauthentic of the two characters, and moral exemplars in general are called into question. Are...
More episodes of This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast
- Episode 33: Carrots, Sticks, and Rituals
- Episode 32: Music Has in It neither Grief nor Joy
- Episode 31: The Great Music Debate -- Mohists vs. Classical Confucians
- Episode 30: Confucianism and Reverential Reading
- Episode 29: Shen Dao on Law
- Episode 28: Mencius Against Mohist Impartialism
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast podcast page.