Journal of East China Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) ›› 2020, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (2): 26-33.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5579.2020.02.003

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Continuously Cultivating One's Nature to Approach Freedom: On FENG Qi's Philosophical Writing of WANG Fu-zhi

LIU Liang-jian   

  • Published:2020-03-24

Abstract: By examining FENG Qi's philosophical writing of WNAG Fu-zhi, we can see the process of the interaction between FENG's research of the history of philosophy and his construction of a philosophical theory. While modifying the draft of The Logic Development of Ancient Chinese Philosophy, FENG was writing The Dialects of Logic Thinking as well. There lies complex mutual interaction between these two works. FENG's creative interpretation of WANG Fu-zhi's doctrine of nature cultivation has gradually transformed from a historical object to an organic element of his own philosophy. Meanwhile, there is another kind of mutual interaction between history and philosophy in FENG, that is, philosophy as the unfolding of the history of philosophy. FENG becomes more and more self-aware in continuing the unfinished course of modern Chinese philosophy through his own philosophizing. In questioning on how to overcome dogmatism and how to achieve human freedom, he is also participating in the unfolding of the third "round" of Chinese philosophy(Xunzi-WANG Fu-zhi-sinicization of Marxism). As far as the tradition of ancient Chinese philosophy is concerned, the "doctrine of wisdom" represents a modern doctrine of qi to some extent, highlighting the monism of qi(vital energy) developed by Xunzi, ZHANG Zai and WANG Fu-zhi while absorbing some theoretical elements from the mind-heart school of LU Jiu-yuan and WANG Yang-ming. With its open mind, the "doctrine of wisdom" participates in the intellectual disputation of different schools in the world. Its perspective of the world philosophy remains as an important spiritual legacy for contemporary Chinese philosophers. To continuously cultivate our nature to approach freedom-this is still not accomplished.

Key words: FENG Qi, WANG Fu-zhi, freedom, world philosophy, philosophy as the unfolding of the history of philosophy