Comparison of Chinese and Western Philosophies and Contemporary Construction of Chinese Philosophy

Abstract

Since modern times, the comparison of Chinese and Western philosophy has been a fundamental context for all philosophical research in China. Currently, the construction of a contemporary form of Chinese philosophy is currently an urgent task facing the field of Chinese philosophy. Rather than solely focusing on a narrow or direct comparative study of Chinese and Western philosophy, it is important to consider the systematic introduction of Western philosophy and the adaptation of Marxist philosophy to the Chinese context, alongside the extensive study of the history of Chinese philosophy over a century. This historical experience merits further attention and examination. The comparative study of Chinese and Western philosophies has been expanding in-depth, but it is facing a growing predicament. The goal of constructing a contemporary form of Chinese philosophy, incorporating three traditions of Chinese, Western, and Marxist philosophies, has at times appeared to move further away rather than closer. Furthermore, at the turn of the 21st century, it faced the challenge of establishing the “legitimacy” of Chinese philosophy. The crux of the problem lies in questioning the “Chinese characteristics” of the historiography of Chinese philosophy, as well as questioning the “philosophical nature” of Chinese philosophical traditions. To promote meaningful progress in comparison of Chinese and Western philosophies, it is imperative to overcome the dual obsessions of “China-non-philosophy” and “philosophy-non-China,” based on truly grasping the essence of the Western philosophical tradition. Additionally, it is equally important to realize the contemporary development of Marxist philosophical interpretation while engaging in critical dialogue with the latest developments in contemporary Western philosophy and reenact the true spirit of ancient Chinese philosophical traditions in a modern discourse style on the basis of maintaining an appropriate awareness of “distance” between “we” and cultural traditions. This requires looking at and organizing the historical changes in Chinese social life and philosophical trends since modern times, with a future China that has achieved a state of modernization as the reference framework. The development of contemporary Chinese philosophy cannot be accomplished by relying upon a single academic school alone. Rather, it requires a holistic renewal of the academic ecosystem, an inevitable unfolding of the spirit of the new era in all cultural and intellectual domains.

Keywords

comparison of Chinese and Western philosophies / Chinese contemporary philosophy / holistic renewal

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