Phước Lâm Huy Trần, Vin University
Abstract. Epistemic injustice theory, introduced by Miranda Fricker (2007) has been a topic of discussion among philosophy scholars. However, the notion of epistemic injustice in relation to virtue in Asian philosophies is left unexplored. In this paper, I attempt to draw attention to a comparative approach between Confucianism and testimonial injustice, a central case of epistemic injustice. By analyzing The Analects, I reveal Confucius’s opposition to testimonial injustices with Xiaoren & Fake Junzi being two examples of lacking virtues of testimonial justice. From there, I propose two Confucian virtues for enhancing the reliability of virtues of epistemic injustice: the Love of Learning (hao xue 好学) and perspective reflection (si 思). The Love of Learning would enable a hearer to increase the appropriateness in their credibility judgment. While the perspective reflection brings a new dimension to Fricker’s notion of reflection. To conclude, I analyze how Ren (仁) could be an ideal state of testimonial justice.
Phước Lâm Huy Trần is a senior studying Bachelor of Business Administration at VinUniversity, Vietnam. Huy is interested in philosophy of education, educational anthropology and the contribution of Asian philosophy, with a focus on Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism, as well as current debates in agency-based epistemology
Nathanael V. Navarro, Independent Researcher
Abstract. In this critical re-reading of Leonardo Mercado’s project that validates the existence of indigenous elements of Filipino Philosophy, I argue that such a scholarship is against the idea of paying attention to the necessity of cultural transformation, to address the pressing issues affecting Filipinos’ well-being. Thus, I ventured into asking the following questions: What is the scope of Leonardo Mercado’s critical enterprise in his brand of Filipino Philosophy? Did Mercado tolerate the native forms of political manipulation to simply prove that there is a unique way of living, thinking, and a set of human values among the Filipinos? Did Mercado underestimate the potential of Filipinos to philosophise and improve their social conditions? Correspondingly, this research characterises Mercado’s scholarship as anti dialogical as it puts a rigid boundary between scholarly works in the intellectual landscape and the intensity of social predicaments in the Philippine cultural setting. This research attempts to be a venue for the critical involvement of various thinkers from different academic disciplines to magnify the impractical and reactionary underpinnings in Mercado’s brand of philosophising. Signalling the call for more dialogical philosophising, this research aims to recover intellectual humility from the threats of cultural triumphalism.
Nathanael V. Navarro holds a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Santo Tomas. His research interests include dialogical and comparative approaches in metaphysical investigations, democratisation, philosophical issues in sustainable social development and cultural studies. He is currently handling administrative roles in various civil society organisations in the Philippines and the global community