Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Academic Positions
Professional Service
Selected Conference Presentations
Gust Lectures And Workshop Talks
Ongoing Research - Description
Publications
Timeline
Generic

Derong Chen

Toronto,ON

Summary

Bringing over 40 years of experience in educational institutions, a strong foundation in Western philosophy enhances teaching and research in Chinese philosophy. Expertise in both English and Chinese facilitates effective communication and engagement with diverse audiences. A commitment to fostering critical thinking and philosophical inquiry drives the pursuit of innovative teaching methods and research initiatives. Passion for bridging cultural philosophies enriches the academic environment and inspires students to explore complex ideas.

Overview

44
44
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Sessional Lecturer III

University of Toronto Mississauga
01.2008 - Current
  • Courses taught: Mandarin Chinese (CHI100–CHI301); Chinese Philosophy (CHI313H, CHI408H, CHI409H).

Professor, Director of Comparative Philosophy Program

Wuhan University
01.2006 - 01.2008
  • Courses: Pre-Qin Chinese Philosophy, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Daoism, Confucianism, Comparative Studies of Chinese and Western Philosophy, Graduate course, Philosophical Methodology.

Teaching Assistant / Instructor

University of Toronto St. George
01.1997 - 01.2005
  • Courses: Mandarin Chinese (EAS/CHI200–201Y), Chinese Philosophy (EAS/PHL407-2005).

Associate Professor of Philosophy, Graduate Supervisor

Sichuan University in China
01.1993 - 01.1994
  • Courses: Modern British/German Philosophy, Contemporary Western Philosophy, Locke, British Empiricism.

Lecturer of Philosophy

Sichuan University in China
01.1990 - 01.1992
  • Courses: Modern British/German Philosophy, Contemporary Western Philosophy, Locke, British Empiricism.

Lecturer of Philosophy

Sichuan College of Education
01.1982 - 01.1987
  • Courses: History of Western Philosophy, Marxist Philosophy.

Education

Ph.D. - Chinese Philosophy

University of Toronto
01.2005

Ph.D. - Modern Western Philosophy

Wuhan University
01.1990

M.A. - Philosophy

Sichuan University
01.1982

B.A. - Philosophy

Sichuan University
01.1982

Skills

  • Research and analysis
  • Academic research
  • Academic writing
  • Class management

Certification

Will be uploaded later.

Academic Positions

  • University of Toronto Mississauga, Sessional Lecturer III, Department of Language Studies, 2008-01-01 to present, Mandarin Chinese (CHI100–CHI301), Chinese Philosophy (CHI313H, CHI408H, CHI409H)
  • Wuhan University, College of Philosophy, Professor, Director of Comparative Philosophy Program, 2006-01-01 to 2008-01-01, Pre-Qin Chinese Philosophy, Ancient Greek Philosophy, Daoism, Confucianism, Comparative Studies of Chinese and Western Philosophy, Graduate course, Philosophical Methodology
  • University of Toronto St. George, Teaching Assistant / Instructor, 1997-01-01 to 2005-01-01, Mandarin Chinese (EAS/CHI200–201Y), Chinese Philosophy (EAS/PHL407-2005)
  • Sichuan University in China, Lecturer of Philosophy, 1990-01-01 to 1992-01-01
  • Sichuan University in China, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Graduate Supervisor, 1993-01-01 to 1994-01-01, Modern British/German Philosophy, Contemporary Western Philosophy, Locke, British Empiricism
  • Sichuan College of Education, Lecturer of Philosophy, 1982-01-01 to 1987-01-01, History of Western Philosophy, Marxist Philosophy

Professional Service

  • Director, Division of Comparative Philosophy, Wuhan University, 2006-01-01 to 2008-01-01
  • General Secretary, International Society for Comparative Studies of Chinese and Western Philosophy, 2007-01-01 to 2008-01-01, Edited two volumes of the newsletter for the society.
  • Coordinator of Graduate Studies, Department of Philosophy, Sichuan University, 1993-01-01 to 1994-01-01
  • Chief Editor, Journal of Graduate Studies of Wuhan University, 1987-01-01 to 1990-01-01

Selected Conference Presentations

  • Beyond Good and Evil: Deconstructing Human Nature in Mengzi, 24th International Society for Chinese Philosophy (ISCP) Conference, Ljubljana, 2025-06-22
  • Exploring the Methodology in Zhuangzi’s Equality of Things, Being, Thinking and Meaningfulness of Life – International Conference in Memorize Wincent Shen, Taiwan, 2024-06-08
  • The Transformation of Teacher’s Role in Today’s High-tech Educational Environment, International Educational Technology Conference, Harvard University, 2017-08-08
  • The Dao in Daodejing and Analects: A Comparative Study, APA Central Division, Chicago, 2007-01-01
  • Metaphor and Abstractness in Chinese and Western Philosophy, APA Pacific Division, San Francisco, 2007-01-01
  • Beyond Relativism: Tan Sitong’s Criticism of Confucian Ethics, APA Pacific Division, San Francisco, 2007-01-01
  • Identifying the Limitations of Empirical Words in Metaphysics, 12th International Conference on Chinese Philosophy, Beijing, 2001-01-01
  • Characterizing Metaphysics in Chinese Philosophy Exemplified by the Category Qi, The First Inter-University Seminar on the Dao of the Chinese Language and Culture: Interdisciplinary Approaches, University of Toronto, Canada, 2001-10-26
  • Feng Youlan’s Li and Hegel’s Absolute Idea: A Comparative Study, American Philosophical Association, New York, 2000-01-01

Gust Lectures And Workshop Talks

  • Academic Writing in English: An Introduction, Wuhan Technology and Business University, Toronto, 2025-07-05
  • Dealing with Chinese Philosophy in the Context of Culture: Exemplified with Two Cases from Daodejing and Yijing, Jackman Humanity Building (100 JHB), U of T St. George campus, 2025-03-18
  • Theory of Human Nature in Ancient Chinese Philosophy, McMaster University, 2009-10-23

Ongoing Research - Description

The ongoing research project will be submitted to Lexington Books (scheduled submission deadline), details will be provided upon request.

Publications

Reconstructing Metaphorical Metaphysics in Traditional Chinese Philosophy: Meta-One and Harmony, Lexington Books, 2024-01-01, Metaphorical Metaphysics in Chinese Philosophy: Illustrated with Feng Youlan’s New Metaphysics, Lexington Books, 2011-01-01, A Study of Locke’s Theory of Meaning (in Chinese), Hunan Educational Press, 1992-01-01, Dao Legislates for Humans vs. Humans Legislate for Themselves: A Comparison of Laozi’s and Confucius’ conceptions of Dao, Creating a Global Dialogue on Value Inquiry (English), Edwin Mellen, 2009-01-01, 277-308, Identifying the Limitations of Empirical Words in Metaphysics: Exemplified by Qi, Proceedings of the 12th International Chinese Philosophy Conference (Chinese), Commercial Press, 2003-01-01, 279-295, The Predicament of the Correspondence Theory of Truth: Kant’s Challenge, German Philosophy (Chinese), Beijing University Press, 1990-01-01, 16-40, On the Internal Differences between Hegel’s Conceptions of Two Kinds of Practice, Sources of Marxism (Chinese), 1990-01-01, 12, Commercial Press, 414-437, Exploration of Feng Youlan’s Holistic View of Social Ethics (Chinese), Tradition and Creation: The Collection of 4th Conference Papers on Feng Youlan’s Philosophical Ideas, 2000-01-01, 4, Beijing University Press, 167-184, On Kant’s View of Two Kinds of Conception of Practice, Foreign Philosophy, 1984-01-01, 5, Commercial Press, 151-166, Feng Youlan’s Interpretation of Western Philosophy: A Critical Examination, ASIA Network Exchange, 22.1, 2014-01-01, 74–89, Di 帝 and Tian 天 in Ancient Chinese Thought: A Critical Analysis of Hegel’s Views, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy, Springer, 8.1, 2009-01-01, 13–27, Beyond Relativism: Tan Sitong’s Criticism of Confucian Ethics, Philosophical Inquiry, 6, Wuhan University Press, 2007-01-01, 198–217, Metaphor and Abstractness: Metaphysical Terms in Chinese and Western Philosophy, Philosophical Inquiry, 6, Wuhan University Press, 2007-01-01, 218-231, Three Meta-Questions in Epistemology: Rethinking Zhuangzi’s Metaphors, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 32.3, 2005-01-01, 493–507, The Biographies of Laozi and Confucius in the Shiji: An Illustration of Sima Qian’s Historiography, East Asia Forum, 2000-01-01, 119–142, Philosophical Study and the Study of Philosophy, Journal of Sichuan University, 3, 1993-01-01, 23-28, Chengdu, China, An Outline of the Theory of Practical Intention of Meaning, Journal of Sichuan University, 4, 1991-01-01, 28-37, Chengdu, China, Cognition, Behavior and Freedom: A Study of Fichte’s View of Practice, Journal of Wuhan University (Supplement), Wuhan University Press, 1989-01-01, 27-32, The Negative and the Reconstruction of Metaphysics: A Comparative Study of Kant and Bergson, New Views in Tianfu: The Journal of the Sichuan Association of Philosophy and Social Science, 4, 1987-01-01, 92-96, On Reflection, Journal of Sichuan College of Education, 4, 1987-01-01, 16-22, Chengdu, On the Two Dimensions in Epistemology, Chen Yu, Study and Thinking, Journal of the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Science, Beijing, Chinese Academy of Social Science Press, 1984-01-01, 4, 32-34, Review of The Course of Feng Youlan’s Philosophical Life, Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy, 5.1, 2005-01-01, 176–180, Hume, J. Ayer, English → Chinese, Journal of Sichuan College of Education, 1986-01-01 to 1987-01-01, Approaches to Acquire Truth, I. Kant, German → Chinese, Translations of Philosophy, Beijing: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, 1987-01-01

Timeline

Sessional Lecturer III

University of Toronto Mississauga
01.2008 - Current

Professor, Director of Comparative Philosophy Program

Wuhan University
01.2006 - 01.2008

Teaching Assistant / Instructor

University of Toronto St. George
01.1997 - 01.2005

Associate Professor of Philosophy, Graduate Supervisor

Sichuan University in China
01.1993 - 01.1994

Lecturer of Philosophy

Sichuan University in China
01.1990 - 01.1992

Lecturer of Philosophy

Sichuan College of Education
01.1982 - 01.1987

Ph.D. - Modern Western Philosophy

Wuhan University

M.A. - Philosophy

Sichuan University

B.A. - Philosophy

Sichuan University

Ph.D. - Chinese Philosophy

University of Toronto
Derong Chen