Knowledge and Existence (An Ontological Examination of the Epistemology of Modern China)

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 is always 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 the knower's existence. The assertion "There must be a true person before there can be true knowledge" summarizes the intrinsic relationship between knowledge and human existence. Starting from the "Science vs. Metaphysics" debate in 20th-century Chinese philosophy, systematic reflections were conducted on the ontological foundations of metaphysical knowledge, scientific knowledge, and common sense. This 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.