Bulletin Autumn‧Winter 2004

Chinese Un i v e r s i ty of H o n g Kong, w h en he was a p p o i n t ed to the De p a r t me nt of R e l i g i on a n d P h i l o s o p h y. He r e t i r ed f o rma l ly f r om the department i n 1985, yet served the Un i v e r s i ty for another decade b y o c c u p y i ng successively such posts as senior research f e l l ow of the Institute of Chinese Studies as we l l as senior college t u t or of Shaw College. It is d u r i ng his 30 years of service to the Chinese University that he wrote most of his important books and gave leadership i n the role of head of the Graduate D i v i s i on of Philosophy. Prof. L ao also p l a y ed an i m p o r t a nt role i n designing the part of Chinese Culture of the Integrated Basic Studies (IBS) p r og r amme at Ch u ng Chi College — a series of general edu c a t i on courses that have shaped the lives of generations of college students. One major output of Prof. Lao's occupation w i t h the IBS programme was the publication of his m u c h a c c l a i med b o o k Essentials of Chinese Culture (1965, 1998), w h i ch today remains a bestseller for university students and general readers. D u r i n g his time at the Chinese University Prof. Lao was a visiting scholar at Harvard University, 1969- 1970, and twice a visiting fellow at P r i n c e t on U n i v e r s i t y, 1970 a nd 1975-1976. A f t er his retirement i n 1985, he was a visiting professor at Tsing H u a Un i v e r s i t y, Ta i wan, 1989-92, No rmal University, Taiwan, 1990, Chengchi Un i v e r s i t y, Ta i wa n, 1992-93, So o c h ow Un i v e r s i t y, Ta i wa n, 1999- present, and f r om 1994 he has been chair professor at H u a Fan University, Taiwan. He has also r e t u r n ed o n s e v e r al o c c a s i ons to t he Chinese University, notably i n 2000-2001, as a v i s i t i ng professor of the Depa r tment of Ph i l o s oph y, i n the year of C h u ng Chi College's 50 th An n i v e r s a r y. He t a u g ht courses i n the Philosophy of Culture and C o m p a r a t i ve S t u d i es of E a s t e rn a nd We s t e rn P h i l o s o p h y, w h i c h ga ve t he y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n t h e p r e c i o u s oppo r t un i ty to be taught b y h i m. Prof. Lao's c o n t r i b u t i o ns to Chinese p h i l o s o p hy ha ve w o n h i m p r e s t i g i o us a w a r d s a n d h o n o u r s i n c l u d i n g t he D i s t i n g u i s h ed A c a d em ic A c h i e v eme nt A w a r d f r om the Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Ho n o ur Society, and the Culture Prize f r om the Executive Yuan i n Taiwan. He has been an Ac a d em i c i an of the Ac adem ia Sinica, Taiwan since 2002, the t h i rd philosopher, after H u Shi and Feng You l an, to be so honoured. I n the same year, Prof. Lao was also conferred the h o n o ur of Na t i o n a l- E n d o w e d C h a ir P r o f e s s o r s h ip b y t he M i n i s t ry of Education,Taiwan. A distinguished calligrapher and poet, Prof. Lao once expressed his p r o f o u nd reverence for the philosophical enterprise i n a brilliant couplet: While the boundless horizons of truth extend beyond words Let the limited writings of men be left to posterity The philosopher, the lover of w i s d om, is at home i n a limitless realm of thought, w e l l b e y o n d t he b o u n d a r i es of o u r language. Prof. Lao's life w o r k reminds us of the h i g h ideals of the p h i l o s o p h i c al calling, as w e l l as its a b i d i ng social and political relevance. Mr. Chairman, it is my honour to present to y o u Prof. L ao Y u n g - w e i, r e n o w n ed philosopher, dedicated teacher, analyst of Chinese culture, and defender of humanistic values, for the award of the degree of Doctor of Literature, honoris causa. by Prof. David Parker The philosopher, the lover of wisdom, is at home in a limitless realm of thought, well beyond the boundaries of our language. Prof. Lao's life work reminds us of the high ideals of the philosophical calling, as well as its abiding social and political relevance. The 61st Congregation 25