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Michael Paton

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Honorary Associate China Studies Centre, University of Sydney

I am an honorary in the China Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Australia.

I completed my Bachelor of Science (Education) degree in geology at the University of New South Wales and Bachelor of Arts (honours) and PhD in Chinese studies at the University of Sydney.

My major research interest is the history and philosophy of science and the environmental history of China, especially focusing on dili (the principles of the earth) and fengshui (wind & water). I have translated major dili texts over different dynasties to map the development of China’s environmental understanding.

My research interests in communication skills and university education deal with their relationship to culture, critical thinking and knowledge production.

I also research the oversimplification of Chinese culture in the English language business literature.

I was a co-founder of the Sustainable Management of Organisations Group (SMOG) in the Faculty of Economics & Business at the University of Sydney and Vice President (Asia) of the Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy and Social Studies of Science.

Experience

  • 2012–present
    Honorary Associate, School of Economics University of Sydney
  • 1995–2012
    Teaching Quality Fellow, Faculy of Economics & Business
  • 1990–1995
    Teacher/teacher trainer, Institute of Languages UNSW

Education

  • 1996 
    University of Sydney, PhD/Chinese Studies
  • 1987 
    University of Sydney, BA(hons) Chinese Studies
  • 1975 
    UNSW, BSc(Education) Geology

Publications

  • 2015
    The Geography of Styles of Reasoning: East & West; North & South, Philosophy East and West vol. 65:4
  • 2013
    Five Classics of Fengshui: Chinese Spiritual Geography in Historical & Environmental Perspective, Brill
  • 2012
    Chinese Business Students in Australia: a conundrum of gender’, China Express vol. 1
  • 2011
    "Ethical Challenges - International Students and Business Education", Business and Professional Ethics Group Biennial Report, University of Sydney Business School vol. 2 pp. 7-9
  • 2011
    'Asian Students, Critical Thinking and English as an Academic Lingua Franca', Analytic Teaching and Philosophical Praxis, vol.32, pp. 27-39
  • 2009
    'Human nature and social complexity: a common challenge for Chinese philosophy and marketing' (with Paul Henry), International Journal of Chinese Culture and Management, vol.2:3, pp. 276-90
  • 2007
    ‘Fengshui: a Continuation of the Art of Swindlers?’, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, no. 3 volume 34 427-445 September.
  • 2007
    ‘Why we are Failing our International Students: an inconvenient truth’ , Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, volume 6, June 2007 pp. 101-111

Grants and Contracts

  • 2010
    ‘Sustainable Management for Organisations, Business and Government Mobility Grant’
    Role:
    Developer/co-leader
    Funding Source:
    joint European Union Australian Government mobility grant

Honours

Vice President (Asia) Australasian Association for the History, Philosophy & Social Studies of Science