Includes bibliographical references and index.

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 o f 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.

Abstract freely available; full-text restricted to individual document purchasers.

"For anyone looking to understand Chinese philosophy, here is the place to start. Introducing this vast and far-reaching tradition, Ronnie L. Littlejohn tells you everything you need to know about the Chinese thinkers who have made the biggest contributions to the conversation of philosophy, from the Han dynasty to the present. He covers: The six classical schools of Chinese philosophy (Yin-Yang, Ru, Mo, Ming, Fa, and Dao-De); The arrival of Buddhism in China and its distinctive development; The central figures and movements from the end of the Tang dynasty to the introduction into China of Western thought; The impact of Chinese philosophers ranging from Confucius and Laozi to Tu Weiming and some of the Western counterparts who addressed similar issues. Weaving together key subjects, thinkers, and texts, we see how Chinese traditions have profoundly shaped the institutions, social practices, and psychological character of not only East and Southeast Asia, but the world we are living in. Praised for its completely original and illuminating thematic approach, this new edition includes updated reading lists, a comparative chronology of Western and Chinese philosophers, and additional translated extracts."-- Provided by publisher.

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