Dao Companion to ZHU Xi’s Philosophy (Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy, 13)

Zhu Xi (1130-1200) has been commonly and justifiably recognized as the most influential philosopher of Neo-Confucianism, a revival of classical Confucianism in face of the challenges coming from Daoism and, more importantly, Buddhism. His place in the Confucian tradition is often and also very plausibly compared to that of Thomas Aquinas, slightly later, in the Christian tradition. This book presents the most comprehensive and updated study of this great philosopher. It situates Zhu Xi’s philosophy in the historical context of not only Confucian philosophy but also Chinese philosophy as a whole. Topics covered within Zhu Xi’s thought are metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, hermeneutics, philosophy of religion, moral psychology, and moral education. This text shows both how Zhu Xi responded to earlier thinkers and how his thoughts resonate in contemporary philosophy, particularly in the analytic tradition. This companion will appealto students, researchers and educators in the field. Dao Companion to Zhu Xi’s Philosophy Dao Companions to Chinese Philosophy Dao Companion to Zhu Xi’s Philosophy Acknowledgments Contents Contributors About the Editors Chapter 1: Introduction Part I: Zhu Xi: The Philosopher as a Commentator Chapter 2: Zhu Xi: His Life, His Works, and the Evolving Formation of His Philosophy Chapter 3: Zhu Xi’s Hermeneutics Chapter 4: Zhu Xi’s Four Books: The Locus Classicus of a New Confucian Philosophy Chapter 5: Zhu Xi’s Interpretation of the Five Canonical Scriptures Part II: Zhu Xi in the Chinese Confucian Tradition Chapter 6: Zhu Xi and Pre-Qin Confucianism Chapter 7: Zhu Xi and the Han–Tang Confucians Chapter 8: Zhu Xi and the Five Masters of Northern Song 1 Introduction 2 Why Five? 3 Zhou Dunyi in Zhu Xi and the Criterion of Evaluation 4 Shao Yong and Zhang Zai: Predecessors outside Daotong 5 Zhu Xi’s Different Treatments of the Two Chengs 6 Conclusion References Chapter 9: Zhu Xi and his Contemporaries: Zhang Shi, Lü Zuqian, Chen Liang, and Lu Jiuyuan Chapter 10: Zhu Xi and Later Neo-Confucians Chapter 11: Zhu Xi and Contemporary New Confucians: Reflections on Mou Zongsan’s and Tang Junyi’s Interpretations Part III: Aspects of Zhu Xi’s Philosophy Chapter 12: Li and Qi as Supra-Metaphysics Chapter 13: Zhu Xi’s Metaphysical Theory of Human Nature 1 Introduction 2 Inherent Problems 2.1 Mencius’ Descriptive Definition and Objections 2.2 Incompatibility with Normativity 3 Human Nature as Principle and Normativity 3.1 Triad Model 3.2 Inborn-ness Extrinsic to Human Nature 3.3 Human Nature as Principle and Multiplicity 4 Moral Defects, Disparities, and Embodied Nature 4.1 Embodied Nature and Mutual Inseparability 4.2 Human Nature Itself and Non-interfusability 5 The Great Ultimate, Sensory Desires, and the Unity of Nature 5.1 Zhou Dunyi’s Great Ultimate 5.2 Sensory Desires and the Unity of Nature 6 Conclusion References Chapter 14: Theory of Knowledge 1: Gewu and Zhizhi Chapter 15: Theory of Knowledge 2: “Genuine Knowledge” and the Problem of Knowledge and Action in Zhu Xi Chapter 16: Zhu Xi’s Cosmological and Metaphysical Interpretations of the Confucian Cardinal Virtues Chapter 17: The Problem of Evil in Zhu Xi’s Thought Chapter 18: Moral Psychology: Heartmind (Xin), Nature (Xing), and Emotions (Qing) Chapter 19: Zhu Xi and the Idea of One Body Chapter 20: Moral Cultivation: Gongfu – Cultivation of the Person Chapter 21: Zhu Xi’s Ideal of Moral Politics: Theory and Practice Chapter 22: Zhu Xi’s Political Philosophy in Context: With Special Focus on His Commentaries of the Four Books Chapter 23: Zhu Xi’s Philosophy of Religion Chapter 24: Science and Natural Philosophy: Zhu Xi on the Scientific Subjects and the Natural World 1 Introduction: Zhu Xi’s Knowledge About the Natural World 2 Zhu Xi on the Specialized “Scientific” Subjects 2.1 The Context of Zhu Xi’s Interest in the “Scientific” Subjects 2.2 Zhu Xi’s Attitude Towards the “Scientific” Subjects 3 Zhu Xi’s Knowledge and Work on Scientific Subjects 3.1 Calendrical Astronomy 3.2 Harmonics and Music 3.3 Geography 3.4 Medicine 3.5 Mathematics 3.6 Other Areas: Animals and Plants, Agriculture, and Techniques 3.7 Borderline Areas: Yijing Divination; Internal Alchemy; Geomancy 4 Zhu Xi on the Natural World and Objects and Phenomena in It 4.1 Zhu Xi’s Natural World 4.2 Nature as “Natural” 5 Conceptual Schemes and Method of Zhu Xi’s Natural Philosophy 5.1 Basic Ideas and Assumptions for “Natural” Knowledge 5.1.1 qi and li 5.1.2 The Dichotomy of “Above Physical Form” vs. “Below Physical Form” 5.2 Categorical and Associative Schemes of Yin–Yang, the Five Phases, etc. 5.3 Gewu: Zhu Xi’s Method of Learning 6 Concluding Remarks: A Program of Study for Scientific Subjects References Chapter 25: The Worldview of Zhu Xi Chapter 26: Zhu Xi and Confucian Environmental Ethics Chapter 27: Zhu Xi’s Critical Naturalism: Methodology of His Natural Knowledge and Philosophy Part IV: Comparative Perspective Chapter 28: Zhu Xi and Buddhism Chapter 29: Zhu Xi and Daoism: Investigation of Inner-Meditative Alchemy in Zhu Xi’s Theory and Method for the Attainment of Sagehood Chapter 30: Zhu Xi and Christianity Chapter 31: Zhu Xi and Korean Philosophy Chapter 32: Zhu Xi and Japanese Philosophy Chapter 33: Zhu Xi and Western Philosophy Part V: The Contemporary Significance Chapter 34: Zhu Xi and the Fact/Value Debate: How to Derive Ought from Is Chapter 35: Zhu Xi and the Liberalism/Communitarianism Debate: An Imperfect Fit Chapter 36: Zhu Xi’s Normative Realism and Internal Moral Realism Chapter 37: Zhu Xi and the Debate between Internalism and Externalism 1 Introduction 2 The Issues of Internalism and Externalism and the Significance of Moral Cultivation 3 The Background of Zhu Xi’s Theory and A Short Preliminary Introduction of the Development of Pre-Qin Confucianism 4 Zhu Xi’s Analysis of the Basic Structure of a Moral Act: From Moral Cultivation to Moral Theory 5 Zhu Xi’s Theory of Moral Cultivation: The Realization of Sagehood 6 How to Realize a Moral Act: Relation between Xin and Xing Again 7 Zhu Xi’s Internalism vs. that of Korsgaard and Williams 8 Conclusion References Chapter 38: Zhu Xi and the Debate between Virtue Ethicists and Situationists: Virtue Cultivation as a Possible, Practical, and Necessary Enterprise Chapter 39: Zhu Xi’s Ethical Theory: Virtue Ethics Considerations and Kantian Parallels 1 Introduction 2 Virtues Ethics and the Formation of Zhu Xi’s Theory 3 Zhu Xi’s Ethical Theory: An Overview 4 Kantian Parallels 5 Kant’s Theory of Moral Will 6 Some Background Considerations 7 Zhu Xi’s Conception of Moral Will 8 Kant and Zhu Xi on Volition and Moral Mindedness 9 Kant on Achtung (Respect) and Zhu Xi on Jing 敬 (Reverence) 10 Kant on Pflicht (Duty) and Zhu Xi on Yi 義 (Appropriateness) 11 Conclusion References Chapter 40: Zhu Xi on Self-Focused vs. Other-Focused Empathy Index Zhu Xi (1130-1200) has been commonly and justifiably recognized as the most influential philosopher of Neo-Confucianism, a revival of classical Confucianism in face of the challenges coming from Daoism and, more importantly, Buddhism. His place in the Confucian tradition is often and also very plausibly compared to that of Thomas Aquinas, slightly later, in the Christian tradition. This book presents the most comprehensive and updated study of this great philosopher. It situates Zhu Xis philosophy in the historical context of not only Confucian philosophy but also Chinese philosophy as a whole. Topics covered within Zhu Xis thought are metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, hermeneutics, philosophy of religion, moral psychology, and moral education. This text shows both how Zhu Xi responded to earlier thinkers and how his thoughts resonate in contemporary philosophy, particularly in the analytic tradition. This companion will appeal to students, researchers and educators in the field.