Events

Lectures and Lecture Series

College of Fellows Lecture Series

The College of Fellows Lecture Series invites international fellows and Tübingen academics to present their research and network. Every month, fellows and international guest researchers from the University of Tübingen present their research findings. If you are interested, please contact infospam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

Professor Robin Wang:

"Can AI Learn relational responsiveness? Subtle Proximity and a Dao-Based Model of Intelligence"

August 10, 2026
College of Fellows, Rümelinstr. 27

Abstract:
In this CoF Lecture, Robin Wang sheds light on notions of “intelligence” in Chinese Philosophy, and offers an alternative model of intelligence beyond prediction, calculation, and control. Drawing on the Zhuangzi, one of the foundational texts of Daoism, Wang introduces the divergence between correctness (對 dui) and relational responsiveness (通 tong) – the Dui–Tong Problem. Wang develops Subtle Proximity as a Dao-based logic of continual relational repositioning for navigating this tension, based on a framework articulated through five theses and five Daoist epistemic virtues. This lecture thus addresses key questions at the intersection of philosophy and artificial intelligence by ways of a Dao-Based Model of Intelligence.

Robin R. Wang is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Mercator Visiting Professor at Center for Science and Thought, University of Bonn, Germany (2026) and The Berggruen fellow (2016-17) at The Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS), Stanford University. Her teaching and research focus on Chinese and Comparative Philosophy, particularly Daoist philosophy and their relevance in addressing contemporary challenges. She currently serves as Vice President of the International Society of Chinese Philosophy (ISCP) and will become President of the Society in 2028.

Conferences and Workshops

Workshop with Professor Robin Wang

"Dwelling in Clarity: Zhuangzi’s Ming 明 and Subtle Proximity"

August 10, 2026, 2:00 – 6:00 pm
College of Fellows (Villa Köstlin, Rümelinstr. 27)

In this workshop, Robin Wang shares her current works with the participants with the aim of enabling genuine discussions on Zhuangzi's understanding of dwelling within a world characterized by uncertainty, plurality, and transformation, and how such an alternative reading of dwelling opens the way toward a richer conception of clarity ming (明).

For participation, please send an e-mail to niels.weidtmannspam prevention@cof.uni-tuebingen.de .

Projects with our cooperation partners

An overview of our cooperations can be found here.

International Society for Intercultural Philosophy (GIP)

International Summer School

"Way and Being: Between Daoist and Presocratic Approaches"

August 24–29, 2026
Alte Aula (Münzgasse 30)

Organized by:
College of Fellows, International Society for Intercultural Philosophy (GIP), The Educational Network of the European Association for Chinese Philosophy (EN-EACP), Geju yu Dongjian 格局與洞見 The Chinese-Greek Philosophy Forum

This summer school aims to foster philosophical and critical engagement by facilitating dialogues between ancient Chinese and Greek sources within the context of contemporary philosophical discourses, focusing but not limited to those influenced by Martin Heidegger’s Way of thinking. We encourage discussions and research that go beyond cultural clichés and agendas, approaching classical studies with an attentiveness to modern reconstructions of ancient texts in both Chinese and Greek traditions.

The summer school takes place as a closed event, applications were due on March 31, 2026.