On the Metaphysical Foundations of Neo- and New Confucianism: Reflections on Lauren Pfister’s Essay on Religious Confucianism

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-89
Author(s):  
Philip J. Ivanhoe
Keyword(s):  
New Confucianism

Introduction to Confucian Psychology: Background, Content, and an Agenda for the Future

2021 ◽  
pp. 097133362199044
Author(s):  
James H. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Self Reflection ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
New Confucianism ◽  
Diary Writing ◽  
Confucian Philosophy ◽  
Zeng Guofan ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Background Content

Psychology has a pervasive but shallow engagement with Confucian philosophy, mainly referencing its popular form as a part of Chinese tradition. This special issue takes a more systematic view of Confucianism as comprehensive philosophy. Drawing from New Confucianism, it is argued that the signal contribution of Confucianism to psychology as human (rather than natural) science is an ontology of the moral mind (heaven and humanity in union). This holistic ontology makes the cultivation of benevolence (仁) a lifelong mission for Confucianists. Practices of self-cultivation are exemplified by a case study of Zeng Guofan, a Qing Dynasty official and scholar, who combined academics, calligraphy, meditation, diary writing and self-reflection to refine his character, nurture and educate his family, and be of service to society. Second, Confucianism’s traditional lack of interest in epistemology is addressed through the complementary (dialectical) principle of ‘one principle, many manifestations’, where methods of Western science can be incorporated into the investigation of practices such as brush calligraphy that are shown to have beneficial effects on mental and physical health. Confucianism can also be treated as an object of scientific inquiry: We find that even among highly educated Chinese people, understanding of Confucianism today is mostly fragmented and abstract. Confucian Psychology can be summarised as a psychology of aspirations for bettering the condition of humanity through character development and greater awareness of the situation to realise the endowment of moral mind. Finally, there are deep connections between Confucian and Indian psychology—both involve height psychology, a psychology of aspirations and for spiritual transformation.

On Interphilosophical Sino-Western Dialogue in the Contemporary World

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 99-114
Author(s):  
Marián Gálik
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Philosophy ◽  
Chinese Philosophy ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Modern Times ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
New Confucianism ◽  
Global Age ◽  
Integrative Studies ◽  
Broad Framework

This article tries to put forward the problems of theory of Comparative Philosophy into the broad framework of Sino-Western dialogue in our global age. It begins with the critical evaluation of New Confucianism as the best scholarly elaborated Chinese philosophy in modern times, which on the basis of integrative studies within the broad dialogue may be able to help to create the polymorphous philosophy(ies) congenial for the contemporary world. Sharing harmony but not uniformity on the background of different vistas such dialogue may contribute to this aim extremely important for the mankind. The article ends with remarks concerning the problems making such theory of Comparative Philosophy plausible.

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