INTERCULTURAL PHILOSOPHY ASSOCIATION
Intercultural Philosophy Assocation
How We Make Sense of Things Across Cultures
About the Intercultural Philosophy Association
The Intercultural Philosophy Association facilitates, promotes and engages cross-culturally in research into, conversations about, and dissemination of philosophical thought.
We understand philosophy broadly as the project of striving to make sense of things at the most general level; we believe that people in all cultures seek to do this, for to do so is part of what it is to be human.
The Association began meeting informally in 2020 and has brought its work so far together in print in Doing Metaphysics in a Diverse World: How We Make Sense of Things across Cultures, published by Bloomsbury in June 2025.
The group is now formalising itself as an Association to continue these explorations. We do so in the conviction that in a world increasingly interconnected and fractious, cross-cultural conversation about philosophy matters more than ever.
The Association in Print
Doing Metaphysics in a Diverse World
How We Make Sense of Things across Cultures
In a world increasingly interconnected and fractious, cross-cultural dialogue about metaphysics matters more than ever. This essential resource introduces us to the multitude of ways philosophers make sense of things.
Drawing on China, Japan, the Indic world, Islamic and European thought as well as pre-colonial African and pre-Spanish Meso-American traditions, a team of leading philosophers and historians of ideas bring case studies, texts, themes and thinkers of very different thought worlds into conversation, including such topics as:
- Spinoza and Wang Bi on substance and change
- Kukai and Gregory Palamas on essence and energy
- Phenomenological echoes in the metaphysics of a Tantric system
- Sufi and Mayan reflection on the human role in constructing the cosmos
- Senghor and African art as expression of an original philosophy.
On the basis of this exceptionally rich and diverse canvas, they reflect on questions of enduring human significance: What is suchness? What do we mean by being, becoming and beyond? What is personhood? How do we name and order our world? How should we live? Crossing cultures, languages and history, the authors’ inclusive approach liberates metaphysics and comparative philosophy from the constraints of traditional Western interpretation.