Background

James D. Sellmann was born on August 14, 1956, in the city of Niagara Fall, New York, United States. He is the son of Richard W. and Maryann (Santangelo) Sellmann.

Education

Sellmann got a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. He received a Master of Arts in Asian Religions, and Comparative Philosophy, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chinese Philosophy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Career

James D. Sellmann started his teaching career as an instructor in philosophy and religion from 1981 to 1982 and 1984 to 1992 at Chaminade University of Honolulu. Since 1992 he is a professor of philosophy and Micronesian studies and in 2010 was tapped as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Guam.

He has published over 100 articles in various peer-reviewed books, encyclopedias, and journals such as Asian Philosophy, and Philosophy East and West.

He published Timing and Rulership in Master Lü's Spring and Autumn Annals, State University of New York Press, 2002. In this work on the Lüshi Chunqiu, James D. Sellmann finds that the concept of "proper timing" makes the work's diverse philosophies coherent. He discusses the life and times of its author, Lü Buwei, and the structure of the work. Sellmann also analyzes the role of human nature, the justification of the state, and the significance of cosmic, historical, and personal timing in the Lüshi Chunqiu. An organic instrumentalist position begins to emerge from the diverse theories of the Lüshi Chunqiu. In conclusion, Sellmann looks at the implications of the syncretic philosophies of the Lüshi Chunqiu for contemporary conceptions of time, human nature, political order, and social and environmental ethics.

Achievements

• James D. Sellmann is an outstanding educator and prolific author. He has published over 100 articles in various peer-reviewed books, encyclopedias, and journals. His works are highly praised by critics.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Timing and Rulership in Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals 2002

Views

Sellmann's interests are Chinese and comparative philosophy. He focuses on the Lushi Chunqiu, Daoism, Confucianism, and Later Daoism. He also studies the indigenous cultural philosophies of Micronesia, especially Pohnpeian and Chamorro cultures.

Membership

Sellmann is a member of the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy and American Philosophical Association.

• 

  American Philosophical Association , United States

Interests

• gardening, hiking

Connections

James is married to Arawan Sellmann.

Father:

Richard W. Sellmann

Mother:

Maryann (Santangelo) Sellmann

Wife:

Arawan Sellmann