Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 10, 2023

The Search for Universality in Chinese Philosophy and the Consciousness of Human Community

(Abstract)

Zhu Cheng

The consciousness of human community is based on the search for universality. According to the different paths of the search for universality, the understanding of human community in Chinese philosophy can be divided into different types, such as governance community, natural community, heaven-human community, and moral community. In terms of governance community, Chinese philosophy pursues a kind of universal governance order, recognizing “human nature and the Way of Heaven” with the same consciousness. In terms of natural community, Chinese philosophy pursues the universality of natural consistency, establishes an overall mode of interpretation of the world on the basis of the way of nature. In terms of heaven-human community, Chinese philosophy believes that there exists a transcendent universal Way of Heaven, and that adherence to the Law of Unity of the Way of Heaven enables human life to transcend specific differences and move towards harmony and consistency. In terms of moral community, Chinese philosophy takes the path of constructing a universal moral metaphysical ontology as a means of debating the universality of the moral ontology and its way of functioning, thereby realizing the ideal state of the unity of all things. Creative transformation and innovative development of the pursuit of universality and the consciousness of human community associated with traditional Chinese philosophy can highlight the significance of Chinese philosophy to the world.