Frontiers of Philosophy in China >

2020 , Vol. 15 >Issue 2: 223 - 241

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3868/s030-009-020-0013-8

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Structuring Reality: The Metaphysics of Harmony in Zhang Zai’s Zhengmeng Philosophical System

  • Filippo Costantini
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  • Department of Philosophy and Literature, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 04510, Mexico

Published date: 15 Jun 2020

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2020 Higher Education Press and Brill
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Abstract

The essay aims to analyze the concept and the paradigm of harmony in the metaphysical system of the Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhang Zai. It argues that Zhang Zai’s concept of Great Harmony not only inherits the traditional centrality of this idea within the Confucian tradition, but actually presents the most advanced idea of harmony up to his time. In Zhang Zai’s philosophy, harmony becomes the Way itself, which includes the realm of principles and the outward and functional manifestations of reality. This essay will deal with harmony in two ways: first with Zhang Zai’s direct use of the concept in the Zhengmeng and second, applying the paradigm of harmony to other of Zhang Zai’s key concepts such as qi 氣, void (xu 虛) and natural dispositions (xing 性).

Key words： Zhang Zai; Zhengmeng; metaphysics; harmony; human nature

Cite this article

Filippo Costantini . Structuring Reality: The Metaphysics of Harmony in Zhang Zai’s Zhengmeng Philosophical System[J]. Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 2020 , 15(2) : 223 -241 . DOI: 10.3868/s030-009-020-0013-8

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