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

Author: Gong Huanshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Traditional Chinese philosophy has always understood knowledge as an interactive relationship 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 existence of the knower. The assertion "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 in 20th-century Chinese philosophy, the field has systematically reflected on the ontological foundations of metaphysical knowledge, scientific knowledge, and common knowledge, and thereby deeply explored the relationship between different kinds of knowledge, different modes of existence, and different life realms. These reflections undoubtedly help us think more comprehensively about the legitimacy of different kinds of knowledge.