Ronnie L. Littlejohn

Organized thematically around four central subjects in philosophy - knowledge, metaphysics, ethics and politics - allowing students studying Western philosophy to quickly get to grips with unfamiliar ideas

List of Focus Windows
Preface
Acknowledgements
Note on Translations
Introduction
1. Ontology-Questions about the Nature of Reality
Introduction
The Basic Vocabulary of the Chinese Theory of Reality: The "Great Commentary" to the Classic of Changes (Yijing)
Daoist Ontology: Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350-139 BCE)
A Synthesis of Classical Chinese Ontologies: Masters of Huainan(Huainanzi, c.139 BCE)
Buddhist Ontologies
The Study of Principles: Understanding the Content and Structure of Reality
Shifting Paradigms in Chinese Theories of Reality
Chapter Reflections
Additional Readings and Resources
2. Epistemology-Questions about the Nature and Scope of Knowledge
Introduction
A Classical Chinese Model for Justifying Beliefs and Knowledge Claims: Mozi (c. 470-391 BCE)
Early Chinese Rhetoricians (bianshi) and Logicians
The Inadequacy of Reason for the Discovery of Truth: The Lao-Zhuang Tradition (c. 350-139 BCE)
Knowledge by Analogical Inference: Mencius (c. 372-289 BCE)
Reasoning without Prejudgment: Xunzi (c. 310-220 BCE)
Differentiating Belief from Knowledge: Wang Chong (c. 27-100)
Buddhist Influenced Epistemologies
Pluralistic Cultural Knowledge: Zhang Dongsun (1886-1973)
Chapter Reflections
Additional Readings and Resources
3. Moral Theory-Questions about the Nature and Application of Morality
Introduction
Morality as Cultural Propriety: Confucius (c. 551-479 BCE)
Morality as Heaven's Commands: Mozi (c. 470-391 BCE)
Moral Effortlessness: Lao-Zhuang Views on Morality (c. 350-139 BCE)
Morality as Cultivating Our Inborn Endowments: Mencius (c. 372-289 BCE)
Morality as Carving and Polishing the Person: Xunzi (310-220 BCE)
Buddhist Thinking about Morality in the Chinese Context
Morality Books and Ledgers: Tract of the Most Exalted on Action and Response (c. 1164)
The Ultimacy of Harmony: Zhu Xi (1130-1200)
Moral Willing as Moral Knowing: Wang Yangming (1472-1529)
Early Modern and Contemporary Reflections on Moral Philosophy
Chapter Reflections
Additional Readings and Resources
4. Political Philosophy-Questions about the Nature and Purpose of Government
Introduction
The Classical Chinese Political Theory of Meritocracy
Humane Government: Mencius (c. 372-289 BCE)
Legalism's Two Handles of Government: Han Fei (c. 280-233 BCE)
Daoist Influenced Political Theories
Government Enacting Social Justice: Wang Anshi (1021-1086)
Critique of the Chinese Dynastic System: Huang Zongxi (1610-1695)
Re-envisioning Chinese Political Understanding of Government and Politics
The Sinification of Marxism in China: Mao Zedong (1893-1976)
Forms of Current Confucian Political Theory
Chapter Reflections
Additional Readings and Resources
Quick Guide to Pronunciation
Comparative Chronology of Philosophers
Notes
References
Index