Chinese Philosophy and Philosophers: An Introduction

by Ronnie L. Littlejohn

Overview

For anyone looking to understand Chinese philosophy, here is the place to start. Introducing this vast and far-reaching tradition, Ronnie L. Littlejohn tells you everything you need to know about the Chinese thinkers who have made the biggest contributions to the conversation of philosophy, from the Han dynasty to the present. He covers:

· The six classical schools of Chinese philosophy (Yin-Yang, Ru, Mo, Ming, Fa, and Dao-De)
· The arrival of Buddhism in China and its distinctive development
· The central figures and movements from the end of the Tang dynasty to the introduction into China of Western thought
· The impact of Chinese philosophers ranging from Confucius and Laozi to Tu Weiming and some of the Western counterparts who addressed similar issues.

Weaving together key subjects, thinkers, and texts, we see how Chinese traditions have profoundly shaped the institutions, social practices, and psychological character of not only East and Southeast Asia, but the world we are living in. Praised for its completely original and illuminating thematic approach, this new edition includes updated reading lists, a comparative chronology of Western and Chinese philosophers, and additional translated extracts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350177406
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/24/2022
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.17(w) x 9.32(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

Ronnie L. Littlejohn is Virginia M. Chaney Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Director of Asian Studies at Belmont University, USA. His previous books include Historical Dictionary of Daoism (2020), Confucianism: An Introduction (2011), Daoism: An Introduction (2009) and Riding the Wind with Liezi: New Perspectives on the Daoist Classic (2011).

Table of Contents

List of Focus Windows xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xxi

Note on Translations xxiii

Introduction 1

1 Ontology-Questions about the Nature of Reality 9

Introduction 9

The Basic Vocabulary of the Chinese Theory of Reality: The "Great Commentary" to the Classic of Changes (Yijing) 10

Daoist Ontology: Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350-139 BCE) 18

A Synthesis of Classical Chinese Ontologies: Masters of Huainan (Huainanzi) (c. 139 BCE) 24

Buddhist Ontologies 32

Introducing Buddhism 32

Reality Is One but Variously Experienced: Tiantai Buddhism and Zhiyi (538-597) 34

Buddhist Idealism: Wei-shi (Consciousness-Only) Buddhism and Xuanzang (c. 596-664) 37

The Study of Principles: Understanding the Content and Structure of Reality 42

The Supreme Ultimate as Reality's Principles: Zhu Xi (1130-1200) 42

Reality Is Given Its Structure by the Mind: Wang Yangming (1472-1529) 48

Ontological Realism: Dai Zhen (1723-1777) 53

Shifting Paradigms in Chinese Theories of Reality 58

Arrival of Western Philosophies 58

Tianyanlun, the Theory of Evolution: Yan Fu (1853-1921) 59

The New Scientific Credo about Reality: Hu Shi (1891-1962) 60

Chapter Reflections 62

Additional Readings and Resources 63

2 Epistemology-Questions about the Nature and Scope of Knowledge 65

Introduction 65

A Classical Chinese Model for Justifying Beliefs and Knowledge Claims: Mozi (c. 470-391 BCE) 67

Early Chinese Rhetoricians (Bianshi) and Logicians 72

The Inadequacy of Reason for the Discovery of Truth: The Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350-139 BCE) 79

Knowledge by Analogical Inference: Mencius (c. 372-289 BCE) 86

Reasoning without Prejudgment: Xunzi (c. 310-220 BCE) 91

Differentiating Belief from Knowledge: Wang Chong (c. 27-100) 96

Buddhist-Influenced Epistemologies 103

Truth Is Threefold: Tiantai Buddhism and Zhiyi (538-597) 103

Pure Knowledge: Wang Yangming (1472-1529) 107

Pluralistic Cultural Knowledge: Zhang Dongsun (1886-1973) 111

Chapter Reflections 120

Additional Readings and Resources 122

3 Moral Theory-Questions about the Nature and Application of Morality 125

Introduction 125

Morality as Cultural Propriety: Confucius (c. 551-479 BCE) 126

Morality as Heaven's Commands: Mozi (c. 470-391 BCE) 133

Moral Effortlessness: Lao-Zhuang Views on Morality (c. 350-139 BCE) 141

Morality as Cultivating Our Inborn Endowments: Mencius (c. 372-289 BCE) 147

Morality as Carving and Polishing the Person: Xunzi (310-220 BCE) 153

Buddhist Thinking about Morality in the Chinese Context 159

The Way of Precepts 159

The Bodhisattva in Hua-yan Buddhism 163

The Way of Morality in Chan Buddhism 166

Morality Books and Ledgers: Tract of the Most Exalted on Action and Response (c. 1164) 169

The Ultimacy of Harmony: Zhu Xi (1130-1200) 177

Moral Willing as Moral Knowing: Wang Yangming (1472-1529) 183

Early Modern and Contemporary Reflections on Moral Philosophy 190

The Proper Place of Desire in Morality: Dai Zhen (1724-1777) 190

Moral Metaphysics: Mou Zongsan (1909-1995) 195

Chapter Reflections 199

Additional Readings and Resources 200

4 Political Philosophy-Questions about the Nature and Purpose of Government 203

Introduction 203

The Classical Chinese Political Theory of Meritocracy 204

Rulership and the Function of Government: Confucius (551-479 BCE) 204

The State of Nature and the Creation of Government: Mozi (c. 470-391 BCE) 210

Humane Government: Mencius (c. 372-289 BCE) 214

Legalism's Two Handles of Government: Han Fei (c. 280-233 BCE) 223

Daoist-Influenced Political Theories 230

Government and Politics as an Obstruction to Human Flourishing: Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350-139 BCE) 230

A Plan for Effortless Rulership: The Masters of Huainan (Huainanzi) (c. 139 BCE) 235

Government Enacting Social Justice: Wang Anshi (1021-1086) 240

Critique of the Chinese Dynastic System: Huang Zongxi (1610-1695) 246

Re-envisioning Chinese Political Understanding of Government and Politics 251

On Liberty: Yan Fu (1854-1921) 251

A Great One-World Government: Kang Youwei (1858-1927) 257

A Philosophical Defense of National Civic Virtues: Liang Qichao (1873-1929) 260

The Salification of Marxism in China: Mao Zedong (1893-1976) 265

Forms of Current Confucian Political Theory 274

New Confucianism: Tu Weiming (1940-) 274

Political Confucianism: Jiang Qing (1953-) 280

Chapter Reflections 289

Additional Readings and Resources 292

A Quick Guide to Pronunciation 295

Comparative Chronology of Philosophers 299

Notes 307

Glossary 315

References 321

Index 341

Editorial Reviews

Ronnie Littlejohn's ability to constructively organize and discuss Chinese philosophy with categories and terms recognizable to undergraduate students while remaining faithful to original discourses is remarkable. This is perhaps the most nuanced introduction Western students can have to classical Chinese thought in a familiar philosophical framework. Any teacher dealing with these texts and ideas should seriously consider this work.” —Paul J. D'Ambrosio, Associate Professor of Chinese Philosophy, East China Normal University, China

“This revised and updated volume offers a lucid and comprehensive overview of the key historical periods and conceptual areas of Chinese philosophy from antiquity to modernity. It is an essential resource for engaging the history and contemporaneity of Chinese thought.” —Eric S. Nelson, Professor of Philosophy, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong SAR

From the Publisher

'With a talented and discerning brush, this discriminating and at the same time student friendly work paints a vivid picture of the Chinese philosophical landscape. Its canvas is broad, its execution is elegant; and it is sure to serve as a welcome resource for our deeper understanding of philosophy in a global setting.'

Robin R Wang

'This is an amazingly well-written and helpful introduction to the topic. Systematically divided into four parts - the ontological, the epistemological, the moral and the political - it explores fundamental questions through which readers may begin to appreciate the specificity of Chinese philosophy as well as its commonality with Western philosophy. The book offers a fascinating treatment, from ancient times to the present day, of well selected Chinese philosophers, their texts and their doctrines: sometimes in comparison with the most important Western philosophers like Plato, Berkeley, Mill, Whitehead and Wittgenstein. Ronnie Littlejohn has written the best concise introductory book of its kind on the market. It does a great job in orienting undergraduate students; it will similarly prove to be of real value to general readers; and even specialists and experts in the field will gain a good deal from reading it.'

Vincent Shen

'It is daringly ambitious to try to present in a short monograph an overview of what Chinese philosophy as a whole might bring to world philosophical conversation. Yet within a framework of questions that are recognizably philosophical, as well as global, Professor Littlejohn's refreshing thematic approach introduces readers to how Chinese philosophers of different historical periods - and associated with varied schools of thought - think, and what positions they have adopted on the nature of reality, knowledge, value, and government. Written with admirable clarity and breadth, Littlejohn's book succeeds in communicating the distinctive tenors of Chinese thought and experience. This is an invaluable resource for teaching Chinese philosophy that will interest general readers as well as students and their teachers.'

Sor-hoon Tan

'This work is a comprehensive and highly analytical presentation of Chinese philosophy from the earliest beginnings to the modern era. Arranged thematically in four parts, covering ontology, epistemology, value theory, and political philosophy, it is both daunting in its scope and amazing in its depth. Each section presents the basic features of the kind of philosophy in question, followed by extensive discussions and translations from relevant Chinese works, creating intrinsic connections between eras and opening a powerful vision of the intricate unfolding of Chinese thought. The book inspires and challenges while engaging and clarifying an established subject in an illuminating new light.'

Livia Kohn