Exploring the Depth of Traditional Chinese Moral Philosophy

Author: Wang Zhengping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: Postscript: This book explores issues related to traditional Chinese ethics and morality. In the face of the global wave of modernization, how can traditional Chinese culture develop? In the face of the "heterogeneous cultural invasion" of Western moral values and lifestyles driven by global economic integration, how can traditional Chinese moral civilization be inherited and innovated? These are questions we must seriously consider and answer. The development of Chinese ethical culture requires a rational sense of national cultural self-esteem. Chinese civilization, including its ethical culture, has its own characteristics and strengths. The essence of traditional Chinese ethics and morality is a treasure of Chinese civilization. In today's highly developed economy and technology and rapidly changing lifestyles, its value has not diminished but has greatly enhanced. British philosopher Bertrand Russell believed that Chinese civilization is the only one of the four ancient civilizations that has survived and continued to this day. Since the birth of Chinese civilization, the civilizations of Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Macedon, and Rome have all perished one after another, but Chinese civilization has been able to be passed down and developed through continuous improvement. It is the unique traditional Chinese ethical culture that has united the "hundred million Chinese" into such a powerful force: tenacious national spirit, indomitable strength, and unparalleled national cohesion. The excellent qualities of the Chinese people—such as being peaceful, tolerant, humorous, restrained, patient, and advocating fairness—are exactly what modern society needs. Building a well-off society in an all-round way requires us to draw on the wisdom of traditional Chinese ethics and promote the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation. The development of Chinese ethical culture requires an open perspective toward the world. In today's world, which is becoming like a small village, beneficial exchanges and complementary advantages between Chinese and Western cultures can provide new ideological materials and stimuli for the traditional ethical spirit of China. Russell once said, "I have sufficient reason to believe that the exchange between Eastern and Western civilizations will benefit both sides. The Chinese can learn from us Westerners the indispensable quality of pursuing high practical efficiency, and we Westerners can learn from the Chinese the wisdom of being good at reflection." He believed, "The outstanding advantage of Western civilization is its scientific method; the outstanding advantage of Chinese civilization is its correct concept of life's goals." In today's world, due to the strong development of the economy, technology, and military of developed Western countries, Western culture has objectively become dominant and hegemonic. Some Chinese people, when reflecting on the weaknesses of traditional Chinese ethics, have developed a "worship of Western dominant culture" and a "self-abuse of traditional Chinese culture" mentality, which requires our vigilance. Western ethical culture emphasizes competition, exploration, progress, and efficiency, and advocates individual freedom, equal human rights, private ownership, and self-preservation, all of which contain beneficial factors that modern Chinese ethics can absorb. However, its one-sided pursuit of individual supremacy, obsession with power, aggression, warlike tendencies, indulgence in desires, and endless change will inevitably bring disaster to this world. What kind of ethical culture can truly promote human progress, harmony, and happiness? This remains a question worthy of serious consideration. The 20th-century sage Russell believed, "If the Chinese can freely draw from what they need in our Western civilization while resisting the influence of some bad aspects of it, then the Chinese can fully develop organically from their own cultural traditions and achieve a brilliant outcome that combines the strengths of Western civilization and Chinese culture." It is beneficial for us to often remember Russell's warning. This book is a small effort of mine, gained over more than twenty years of teaching ethics at universities, in learning and researching traditional Chinese ethical thought. It aims to extract some essential, valuable, and enlightening elements from the rich and profound traditional Chinese ethical thought that can contribute to the moral construction of contemporary China, reflecting the main wisdom of Chinese philosophers on morality and life. During the writing and revision of this book, I received enthusiastic encouragement, guidance, and help from professors such as Xia Nairu, Chen Weiping, Zhu Yiting, and Zhu Minyan. Lecturers Su Jianjun and Su Lingyin contributed to the collection of materials for some chapters. Research assistant Shen Hao devoted hard work to the computer input of the text. I sincerely thank them all. Due to the limitations of my knowledge, there may be shortcomings in this book. I sincerely invite relevant experts and readers to point out any mistakes for future improvement. Wang Zhengping March 2004, Shanghai Normal University