Philosophy - Chinese Culture

Preface WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE WORLD? The Birth of Beliefs Shen, the Religious Source of Chinese Philosophical Ideas Atheism The Formation of Concepts about Nature Yin and Yang and the Five Elements: the Intellectual Source of Chinese Philosophical Ideas Vestiges of Magic Observation and Thinking about Phenomena The Concept of Difference or Diversity The Concept of Change or Changeability Sameness and Difference, Constancy and Change The Quest for Essence and Laws Dao Li Qi WHAT ARE THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THINGS? The Relationship Between Heaven and the Human, and its Religious and Intellectual Background The Religious Approach to the Heaven- Human Relationship The Intellectual Approach to the Heaven- human Relationship The Dialectical Outlook Opposition Mutual Reliance Transformation Relativity The Holistic Outlook The Golden Mean Consideration of Both Sides Synthesis Association WHAT ARE SOCIAL NORMS? Moral Consciousness and the Establishment of Confucian Moral Principles The Zhou Dynasty: the Origin of the Sense of Morality Confucius: the Tradition of Rites and the Spirit of Benevolence The Development of Confucian Social Norms Mencius’ Idea of Benevolent Rule and Xun Zi’s Idea of “Propriety and Law” Edification and the Ethical Tradition of Chinese Civilization The Confucian View on “Righteousness vs. Profit” and “Heavenly Principle vs. Human Desire” Reflections on Social Issues in Other Schools of Thought The Taoist Idea of Non-action The Legalist Idea of Rule by Law Views on History Various Views on History The Circulatory Theory of History WHAT IS THE PROPER ORIENTATION OF LIFE? The Ideal Confucian Character and its Cultivation The Ideal Confucian Character Established by Confucius The Cultivation of the Ideal Character Music and Character Building Completion through Music Equilibrium and Harmony The Confucian Theory of Human Nature Mencius’ Doctrine of the Goodness of Human Nature Xun Zi’s Doctrine of the Evil of Human Nature The Development of Theories on Human Nature The Taoist Outlook on Life Lao Tzu’s Outlook on Life Chuang Tzu’s Outlook on Life WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF KNOWLEDGE? The Source and Ability of Knowledge Knowing and Not Knowing Mind and Object Name and Substance Language and Meaning The Structure or Form of Knowledge Information and Thinking Gradual Study and Epiphany Investigating Things and Gaining Knowledge Removing Obstructions Receptiveness and Serenity Views on Knowledge and Action The Foundation of Early Views on Knowledge and Action Word and Action, Knowledge and Practice Zhu Xi’s View on Knowledge and Action Wang Yangming’s View on Knowledge and Action Wang Fuzhi’s View on Knowledge and Action Appendix