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• Asian Philosophy
• Buddhist Philosophy
• Chinese Philosophy
• +7 more

Shad Allen Gilbert is a full-time researcher in Asian Philosophy at the University of Helsinki, supervised by Sami Pihlström and Kirill Thompson. His work bridges classical Buddhist and Daoist metaphysics with contemporary conceptual engineering and cognitive science. He earned a ThM in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a second master’s in Eastern Philosophy, focusing on languages and texts from China and India. His research program, 'pragmatic cosmopolitanism,' integrates thinkers like C.I. Lewis and William James with East Asian philosophical traditions. Education: ThM in Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary (USA) Second Master’s in Eastern Philosophy (China/Taiwan) Sanskrit studies under Lin Chen-kuo and others Research Interests: Focuses on fourth/fifth-century Buddhist and Daoist metaphysics (e.g., Vimalakīrtinirdeśa , Liezi ), cognitive science applications, and conceptual pluralism. Key themes include metaphysical persistence, hermeneutics, and the intersection of Eastern traditions with Western analytic philosophy. Professional Networks: Member of the Philosophical Society of Finland, European Association for Chinese Studies, and International Society for Chinese Philosophy. Active in Buddhist studies through IABS and comparative philosophy via SACP. Grants/Projects: Current projects include ‘A Buddhist Unrocking of the Young Quine’s Chair’ and ‘Instrumentalist Approach to Buddhist Philosophy.’ Collaborates with institutions like the Polin Institute and National Chengchi University. Languages: Fluent in English, Chinese (modern/classical), and Sanskrit; conversant in Greek, Hebrew, German, and Finnish.

• Pragmatic Cosmopolitanism
• Applied Asian Philosophy
• Daoist Philosophy
• +7 more

Shad Gilbert is a full-time Doctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Theology, specializing in Applied Asian Philosophy . His research bridges Indian and Chinese philosophical traditions from the first millennium with contemporary pragmatism, focusing on texts like the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā , Vimalakīrtinirdeśa , and Liezi with Zhang Zhan's commentary. Primary supervisors: Sami Pihlström and Kirill Thompson Advisors: Jan Westerhoff, Terhi Utriainen, Paavo Pylkkänen Previously studied under Kai Marchal, Chien-hsing Ho, and others in Asia His research program "pragmatic cosmopolitanism" combines C.I. Lewis' pragmatism with conceptual engineering to explore transparadigmatic reconception. Key areas include perception/cognition philosophy, Buddhist metaphysics, and Daoist thought. Recent publications examine Zhangian ontology and Buddhist philosophical frameworks. He teaches courses on: Systematic Theology: Belief and Eastern Beliefs (TUM-3239) Comparative Religion (ICE-RD326) Concepts of India/China in Religious Ethics (ICE-RD325)