CONFUCIUS HUI SHIH

MENCIUS KUNG-SUN LUNG

XUN ZI YANG CHU
MO ZI LAO TZU

INTRODUCTION
Zeitgeist Spirit of Time
What notion is prevailing on that time

China:
Divided into provinces ruled by warlords or emperors and each of these are at war
THE PERIOD OF THE WARRING STATES
-Hence, because of wars, famine & Social Economic Downfall Chinese philosophers came in
7 trying to answer the question: HOW CAN WE SOLVE THIS SOCIAL PROBLEM?

+Regarding the History of China

There were 13 DYNASTIES in China & each dynasty is composed by 1 historian.
-These historians has recorded 25 official records of the history of dynasty/ 25 official dynasties.
-These historians were responsible in compiling & Accounting the philosophers & their
philosophies.
SAGES & THE 100 SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS OF CHINA We can narrow it down by 6
schools of thought:

6 SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT: JMM FTY

JU CHIA School of LITERARY
MO CHIA MOHIST school
MING CHIA School of NAMES
FA CHIA LEGALIST school
TAO TE CHIA School of the WAY/ POWER
YIN YANG CHIA COSMOLOGICAL school

JU CHIA
School of LITERARY
Notable Philosophers: Con Fu Cius, Mencius, Xun Zi
MO CHIA
MOHIST school
Notable Philosopher: Mo Zi
MING CHIA
School of NAMES
Notable Philosopher:
FA CHIA
LEGALIST school
Notable Philosopher: Guan Zi, Han Fei Tzu/Zi

TAO TE CHIA
School of the WAY/ POWER
Notable Philosopher: Lao Tzu

YIN YANG CHIA

COSMOLOGICAL school
Notable Philosopher: Tsou Yen

NEO-CONFUCIANIST PHILSOPHERS
These enhanced the philosophies of the previous philosophers.
Tung Chung-Shu
Seng Chao
Tao Sheng

ZimaThe famous Chinese historian who compiled all the recorded writings in the Chinese
history.
 +CHINESE WAY OF THINKING
A. CHINESE PHILOSOPHY:
-It does not lie in the MIND but in the HEART
-TRUTH & FALSITY lies more in the ethical side
-Hence they do not have the EPISTEMIC CONCEPT.
-For this reason, they have not formulated their LOGIC
- In terms of TRUTH & FALSITY, in the Chinese mind, IS NOT ABSOLUTE.
-truth today will be no truth tomorrow.
B. CHINESE MIND (COMPARISON & DIFFERENCES) REGARDING THE CONCEPT OF:
1. WISDOM
-UNDERSTANDING the world instead of ANALYZING.
-LEARNING to LIVE IN & WITH the world rather than CHALLENGING it with TERMS
& LOGIC.
-It consists of LEARNING HOW TO GLIDE THE WORLD/ NATURE rather than
CONQUERING it.

GREEK WAY OF THINKING CHINESE WAY OF THINKING

TO ANALYZE TO UNDERSTAND

You just only think only No more action To do something after it. It is coupled with
needed. action.

IT IS: OTHER-WORLDLY IT IS: THIS-WORLDLY

In Greek philosophy Mind: There is only ONE WORLD! Our only world.
-There are two worlds: We need to solve this problem & live with it!
-The Imperfect world that is full of
problems.
-The Perfect world.
-Hence, we need to solve in order to go
to OTHER-WORLD.
-Man is the measure of all things. -Man is part of Nature & you cannot go against
(Man conquering the nature ) the nature.
(Man living in & with and gliding with the
nature)

-Chinese philosophers are more interested in:

a) The problem
b) Living meaningfully in the world

Chinese philosophy concept of WISDOM can be concluded by KNOWING TO & NOT

KNOWING THAT
KNOWING TO is a PRAGMATIC
Chinese philosophy concept of WISDOM is TRANSFORMATIVE not INFORMATIVE
-Any idea is NOT to INFORM but to TRANSFORM the person.
-It is always in intuitive.

2. TIME
-It is always concerned in HERE & NOW
-Let me enjoy & savor this moment & do not spoil the moment.
-Because tomorrow is different today
N.B. There is no contradictions, because in Chinese mind, you CANNOT COMPARE
TODAY & TOMORROW. Hence, THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE!

3. GOOD & EVIL

-There is no absolute GOOD & EVIL because in Chinese Mind, there is goodness in evilness &
there is evilness in goodness.

CHINESE MIND GREEK MIND

The concept of BOTH-AND PLURALISM: EITHER-OR concept
To HARMONIZE with the nature & the other person in Chinese way of thinking,
corresponds with RESPECT. & RESPECT not only in terms of MIND but an ACTION.
4. LANGUAGE
Is not only means to express something we know about the world but it corresponds a SOCIAL
ASPECT.
Thinking-----Speaking-----Acting
These must be ONE, in UNITY
What you think, must what you speak & act.
We have the responsibility to NATURE & OTHER PERSONS

When we speak of the TAO/DAO it is not all about the DIVINE BEING But it is a WAY.
It is all about harmonizing oneself with other person, & also with the world.