Professor Chang-Seong Hong to talk on “Enlightenment and Nirvana in Academia” as Dille Distinguished Faculty Lecturer
Thursday, Nov. 5 | 4 p.m. | Comstock Memorial Union 105 Dille Distinguished Faculty Lecture
Dr. Chang-Seong Hong, a Minnesota State Moorhead professor of philosophy, will present a talk on “Enlightenment and Nirvana in Academia” Thursday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. in the university’s Comstock Memorial Union room 105, as this year’s Dille Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. The talk is free and open to the public.
Hong argues that one need not reside in a Buddhist monastery for enlightenment and nirvana. Rather, college is the best place to attain them. He will explore a Western analytic approach to achieving the ultimate goals of all Buddhists.
Hong served as a second lieutenant in the Republic of Korea Army and completed his Ph.D. in philosophy at Brown University. At Moorhead, he has taught metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of mind. He is currently researching issues in analytic metaphysics and philosophy of mind, drawing on insights from Buddhist philosophy.
He has explored simple, clear ways to interpret ancient Buddhist philosophy using conceptual tools developed in contemporary analytic philosophy. His Dille lecture demonstrates his research method. In this lecture, he analyzes the concepts of enlightenment and nirvana, the two most fundamental goals of Buddhism, and presents an academically preferred path to achieve them.
Hong has published nine philosophy books in both English and Korean. His Buddhism for Thinkers, co-authored with Dr. Sun Yu, has been adopted as a textbook in the U.S. and abroad. South Korean universities use several of his books as textbooks, and the South Korean government has provided libraries nationwide with copies.
Moorhead is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event. If you need a reasonable accommodation to attend this event, please complete the Event Accommodations Form and a staff member will be in touch with you.
Dille Fund for Excellence
The Dille Fund for Excellence is a permanent endowment established in 1994 by MSUM’s Foundation, through the generosity of our Alumni and Friends. This endowed fund honors the University’s former president, Roland Dille, and his wife, Beth Dille. The fund supports one of the highest honors MSUM bestows upon its faculty- the Dille Distinguished Lecturer Award.