On the Confucian Understanding of Knowledge and Value: An Illustration of Intercultural Studies through Different Interpretations of Life and Existence

Title

On the Confucian Understanding of Knowledge and Value: An Illustration of Intercultural Studies through Different Interpretations of Life and Existence

Author

Shu-hsien, Liu

Page

119-132

DOI

Abstract

　　According to Ernst Cassirer, the primary characteristic of culture lies in its use of symbols, hence it is inevitable that interpretations play an important part in its formation. We take culture to be a developing process. Since Eastern and Western culture developed under very different circumstances in different ages, naturally they exhibit very different characteristics. In this article, we study the integral understanding of knowledge and value from a Confucian perspective as an illustration of intercultural studies through different interpretations of life and existence.
　　There were three epochs of Confucian philosophy: Classical, Song-Ming, and Con- temporary. Likewise Western philosophy went through three stages: ancient, medieval, and modern. A comparative study of the main streams of Confucian and Western phi- losophy shows that the latter is characterized by various ways of dualistic thinking. For example, in ancient Greek philosophy, Plato contrasted eternal Ideas and things; Aris- totle, form and matter. Then in the medieval theologies, there was the contrast between faith and reason. In the modern period, Descartes separated mind and body; Hume, Is and Ought; Kant, phenomenon and noumenon. In our own age the logical positivists contrasted knowledge with cognitive meaning and value with emotive meaning. It is only in the so-called post-modern era that there has been a paradigm change in global consciousness so that other ways of thinking are being considered in an age of dialogue. It is under such circumstances that a review of the Confucian tradition of philosophy is in order.
　　We find that through all three epochs of Confucian philosophy, there has been an integral understanding of knowledge and value. In the ancient period, Confucious be-lieved in the unity of knowledge and practice, putting equal emphasis on humanity and wisdom. Then Mencius and Xunzi developed the so-called idealistic and naturalistic wings of Confucian philosophy, but they were in agreement on having an integral under- standing of knowledge and value. In Song-Ming Neo-Confucian philosophy, there was the contrast between Zhuxi and Wang Yangming; but both sought to find sagely ways to realize harmony and equilibrium that answered intellectual and emotional needs. The contemporary Neo-Confucian philosophers are now trying to give new interpretations of Neo-Confucian insights in order to revive the important messages implicit in this spiri- tual tradition. It is worthwhile to learn something about them as we search for new al- ternatives for the further development of human culture at the present juncture.

Keyword

knowledge, value, dualistic thinking, integral understanding, global con- sciousness, age of dialogue, unity of knowledge and practice, cognitive and emotive meaning

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