An Analysis of the Feasibility of the Self-governance of the Environment with the Concepts of Chinese Traditional Political Science
International Social Science Journal (Chinese Edition)
No.2, 2013
An Analysis of the Feasibility of the Self-governance of the Environment with the Concepts of Chinese Traditional Political Science
(Abstract)
Liu Ran
There is a self-sufficient system of political science in Chinese traditional thought, i.e. “Ways” or Taoist magic arts, which include the way of heaven, the way of humanity and the way of governance. Among them, the concept of “way of governance” is similar to that of modern political science. Chinese traditional political science has systematic structures on two levels: metaphysical political theories and doctrines created through explorations in the way of heaven, the way of humanity, the way of governance and their relations; devices of political practices with ceremonial observance, ritual music, government and punishment as their core categories on the manipulative level. The way of governance of the environment is one of the critical factors in deciding the performance of the activities of governance over the environment. The author tries to explain what role a culture can play in self-governance of the environment by studying the evolution of the systems of governance of the environment in both China and foreign countries and presenting the role that Taoism can play in the governance as a case.