Emanuel Pastreich has long had an interest in how we can reshape our society so that human beings use the earth’s resources responsibly and sustainably and live in peace with one another. As a scholar of East Asian studies, especially classical literature, Pastreich says we can find some answers for our future in the philosophies of the past. One of these is the culturally embedded but largely forgotten Korean philosophy of Hongik, which means to benefit all others in addition to oneself. This philosophy stems from the recognition that all life forms are dependent on each other and on the planet on which they reside.
Pastreich shares his belief in the importance of the Hongik philosophy with author Ilchi Lee and acknowledges Lee’s Brain Education practice as a way to bring Hongik from the realm of philosophy to that of daily life. This year, they co-authored a book that addresses how the Hongik philosophy and other aspects of traditional culture can provide new hope for humanity’s future called Earth Management: A Dialogue on Ancient Korean Wisdom and Its Lessons for a New Earth (Best Life Media 2016). Pastreich explained the purpose and content of this book in a recent videotaped interview.
Watch the video below to hear how Earth Management offers answers to what each of us can do in our individual lives to make real changes in the world.
About Emanuel Pastreich, PhD
Emanuel Pastreich, PhD is a U.S. scholar of East Asian cultures and works extensively for peaceful international relations, environment and technology. He received his B.A. in Chinese at Yale University and Ph.D. in East Asian Studies at Harvard University. He is currently a professor in the College of International Studies at Kyung Hee University and serves as Director of The Asia Institute in Seoul.
Dr. Pastreich has worked as a consultant to both local and central South Korean government and embassies, as well as a variety of U.S., Korean, and Japanese research institutions. Pastreich takes deep interest in the potential for a sustainable spiritual society offered by ancient Korean culture. His book, The Republic of Korea of Which Koreans Are Ignorant, was a best seller in Korea and was praised by the South Korean president. For more information, visit asia-institute.org.
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