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As China comes on the world stage again, people are increasingly becoming
interested in the philosophies and philosophers of that ancient land. The
Chinese philosophical tradition is a long and venerable one. It consists of
several streams--Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism, Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism and
post Neo-Confucianism. Their flow has been sustained by numerous
personages--Confucius, Lao Tzu, Mo Tzu, Mencius, Hsun Tzu, Han Fei, Chou Tun-i,
Chu Hsi, Wang Yang-ming and K'ang Yu-wei, to name but a few. This book deals
with the basic views of those philosophers and their influence on Chinese
history and culture. In no other country, perhaps, has philosophy had such a
determinate influence. This may be a lesson in itself for the contemporary world
in which people and nations in many instances wander aimlessly and hesitatingly,
having cut themselves off from their traditional ground of being.
As teachnology continues to facilitate interaction between the people of
the world, it becomes even more urgent and important that we understand, appreciate and accept each others' traditions and views of man and the world.
About the Author:
Donald H. Bishop is a Professor of Philosophy at
Washington State University. He has contributed over one hundred articles to
scholarly and popular journals.
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