Questions tagged [chinese-philosophy]
33 questions
14
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5 answers
Why is chinese philosophy usually ignored in western philosophy courses?
Is it because western tradition ignores them? Or because they think it's not philosophy, but mysticism? Or because they are afraid of losing ground to a superior thinking?
Ignorance, prejudice or proselytism? Or something else? Or all of them?
Rodrigo
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9
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Why is a white horse not a horse?
While learning about Taoist philosophy, we learned about Gongsung Long's argument that a white horse is not a horse. We recieved the english translation of his argument, and for me it didn't make much sense (perhaps because of translation issues?)…
Cicero
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8
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What did Confucius mean by saying that the 'rectification of names' is the first thing required to rule a state?
In Analects XII, a disciple asked Confucius the right principle of government whereupon Confucious said:
The one thing needed first is the rectification of names.
What did Confucius mean by this?
Mozibur Ullah
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8
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“We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.”- Lao Tzu.What does this mean?
We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds
whatever we want. (Daodejing 11)
What does this mean?
Why does the emptiness hold the things we want?
Tom
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7
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4 answers
Interpretation of a line in the Zhuangzi 4.7
In the Zhuangzi, how can we interpret the end of 4.7 part?
...夫支離其形者，猶足以養其身，終其天年，又況支離其德者乎！
"With a crippled body, he's still able to look after himself and finish out the years Heaven gave him. How much better, then, if he had crippled virtue!"…
Rodrigo
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6
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Is Confucianism a humanism?
To what extent Confucianism is a humanism, in the Western meaning of the term?
I propose to tackle this question by framing it this way: what are the similarities and differences between Confucianism and Western Humanism?
By “Western Humanism” is…
Starckman
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Similarities between philosophies of Zhuangzi (daoism) and Friedrich Nietzsche?
I've come across these quotes by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 – 1900) and about Chinese daoist philosopher Zhuangzi (4th century BC).
from Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit of Music:
But now science, incited by its…
Drux
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5
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What is the original text of Lao Zi’s quote “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be”?
I can not find the original quote in Chinese. It may be so difficult because the original text is probably very far from "When I let go of what I am...". Does anyone know what the original Chinese source is saying?
Hanz Juan tong
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5
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What does Sun Tzu's *Art of War* mean by "victory"?
I've been reading Sun Tzu's art of war ( just out of fun ) and stumbled upon a part of the chapter 4 titled Tactical Dispositions
The confusing statement is
Thus it is the war, the victorious strategist seeks for battle after victory has been won…
Debanjan Chakraborty
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5
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Chinese Philosophy: the yin aspects of the sun
In Chinese philosophy, it is taught that every entity has yin and yang. The sun is traditionally thought of as being very strongly biased towards yang (from the perspective of the balance we perceive).
It is easy to find wordings describing the…
Cort Ammon
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Is Tao a God? Or is it a God only in the Dao Jiao?
I'm asking it here because I'd like to know the philosophical point of view on this question.
I've read that branches that exist are Dao Jia (philosophical Taoism) and Dao Jiao (religious Taoism) and I have more interest in the Dao Jia.
I'm…
feelthhis
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4
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7 answers
What does "action without acting" (wuwei) in Chinese philosophy mean?
Source: p 67, Introducing Philosophy for Canadians: A Text with Integrated Readings (2011 1 ed) by Solomon, McDermid
How can one act without acting?
The question above is based on pp 65-67, which summarises Confucius and Dao De Jing by Lao-zi each…
user8572
4
votes
2 answers
What do we learn about the sun when applying the yin and yang viewpoint?
The post
Chinese Philosophy: the yin aspects of the sun discusses what the yin and yang properties of the sun are according to Daoism.
What is the explanatory value of yin and yang, what is explained when considering the sun from the dichotomic…
Jo Wehler
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3
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How did classical Chinese philosophers practice philosophy?
Practicing Philosophy minimally requires thinking but how did classical Chinese philosophers practice philosophy ? In what way does their practice ressembles and comes appart from that of other philosophical traditions such as the Indian tradition…
Simon Siyu
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3
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Why is Confucianism considered a brilliant philosophical school of thought?
It is undeniable that Confucianism had a profound influence on Chinese society, and I can understand that that could be the sole reason for the strong interest in Confucianism that we see today. However, this question is regarding the 'quality' of…
cc88
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