Sungkyunkwan Univ. professor reinterprets Confucian humility for a global age

Kim Do-il, a professor of Confucian studies and Eastern philosophy at Sungkyunkwan University /Courtesy of Sungkyunkwan University

Drawing on centuries-old Confucian ideals — a philosophical tradition rooted in moral cultivation, social harmony and respect for hierarchy — a Sungkyunkwan University professor challenges Western notions of humility in a new book issued by one of the world’s leading academic publishers.

Kim Do-il, a professor in the Department of Confucian Studies and Eastern Philosophy at Sungkyunkwan University — an institution rooted in Korea’s Confucian scholarly tradition dating back to the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty — released “The Art of Seeing Beyond Oneself: A Confucian Perspective on Humility” through Oxford University Press on Dec. 17, 2025.

The publication signals that Kim’s research has met top-tier international scholarly benchmarks, elevating both the university’s standing and the global competitiveness of Korean humanities research.

In the book, Kim challenges a familiar strain of modern Western philosophy that casts Confucian humility as a form of self-denial or quiet self-erasure. Instead, he recasts it as an outward-looking discipline — less about diminishing the self than about moving beyond its narrow confines to better grasp others and the wider world.

He argues that, properly understood, the concept offers a vital resource for shaping ethical character, equipping individuals to develop a broader, more expansive moral vision.

The work also reflects the broader efforts of the Center for Critical Confucianism and Contemporary Confucian Classics, which Kim leads. Since 2021, the center has conducted collaborative research under the theme of building a harmonious society through humble citizenship, supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Scholars say the book represents a rare example of a Korean-led humanities project achieving international publication as a single-author volume, underscoring the potential for locally rooted scholarship to resonate globally.

Methodologically, Kim combines close readings of ancient Chinese classics and Neo-Confucian texts from the Song and Ming periods with insights from Western analytic philosophy and modern psychology. He also critically examines existing psychological theories on East Asian humility while drawing comparisons with Western philosophical discussions of humility and modesty.

Kim said he hoped the book would demonstrate how East Asian modes of thought can contribute to rethinking modern society and reshaping communal values.

The scholar also said he “wanted to show that East Asian thought and ways of life can contribute to reflecting on modern society and seeking new directions for the community,” adding that he plans to continue his research “reflecting on universal human issues within a Korean context.”