Knowledge and Existence: An Existential Examination of Chinese Modern Knowledge Theory

Author: Gong Huanshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-10-01
Features: Traditional Chinese philosophy has always understood knowledge as an interaction between the knower and the other. Related to this, knowledge has always been understood as something closely related to the knower: different kinds of knowledge reflect different modes of interaction between the knower and the other, and also reflect different modes of existence of the knower. The proposition "There must be a true person before there can be true knowledge" summarizes the intrinsic relationship between knowledge and human existence. Since the "Science vs. Metaphysics" debate began in 20th-century Chinese philosophy, systematic reflections have been conducted on the ontological foundations of metaphysical knowledge, scientific knowledge, and common sense. This has led to deeper reflections on the relationship between different kinds of knowledge, different modes of existence, and different levels of life. These reflections undoubtedly help us think more comprehensively about the legitimacy of different kinds of knowledge.