Human Limitation and the Possible Functions of Philosophy

in Improving HumanityKang Ouyang

Vice President of HUSTDirector of Philosophy Institute

Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyP. R. China

kouyang@mail.hust.edu.cn

1, My understanding to the topic of the conference

• 1) It is necessary and possible to improve Humanity• ——necessary: un-complete human being, with limitation• ——possibility ： opening human being, person and

mankind; inner-desires, outside forces• 2) It is necessary and possible for philosophy to improve

humanity• ——necessary ： the value and the function of philosophy,

——possibility ： what is best philosophical idea or at least the better one?

• 3) The responsibility of philosopher• ——What is the role of philosophers

——How can philosophers play the roles well?

2, Return to the most basic or the fundamental definition of Human Being

• 1) Compare with animals：• ---Rational animal; • ---Political and social animal;• ---Tool using animal;• 2) The special behavior and function of man• ---Symbol man• ---Practical man• ---Economic man• ---Moral man• ---Feeling and Sensitive man • ---Natural man, and so on.• 3) Each of them has double or multiple natures and

functions

3, Reflect the human limitations in the globalized complex world

• “Global Problem” and the developing limitation,--ecological reflection

• “Individual Problem” and human happiness, ---psychological reflection

• “National Problem” and the function of the countries, ---political, economic and ethnic reflection

• “Belief Problem” and the cultural conflicts,---religional and cultural reflection

4, To know yourself---the possible resources from the cultures and

philosophies

• The Wisdom from Chinese Philosophy and Human Life

1 ） The Unity between Sky and Earth(天人合一 )

• The idea on the unity of Humanity and Heaven (the Nature) is one of the key points of the Chinese cultures. Now our entire world is facing the sharp controversy between the human being and the Nature. The environment pollution, the weather problems, different disasters, and so on, threats the safety of our world and damages the existence of Human beings. They look cased by nature, but many of them are the man-made disasters and their side effects. From the guiding idea, this is a consequence of absolute rationalism. Chinese philosophers stressed that nature is not the slaves of human being but the equal company of man’s life. Man should stay with the nature on good terms. Human being should respect and protect nature. To protect nature is to protect the necessary environment of human life. We might say that thousand years’ age Chinese intelligence realized the theory of ecological protection.

2 ） The Means or the Golden Rule（中庸之道）

• The Means (Zhong Yong), also be called as Golden Rule) is one of the most important outlook and method in Chinese Philosophy. The Means, as well as “the Impartiality”, “the golden means” or “the doctrine of the means”, means to give up two extreme sides but held the middle one. From the epistemological angle, it asked to master the object in a complete and perfect viewpoint but to avoiding any kind of extreme, exceeding and partiality. In the social life, it insist that people should have his own right judgment to the complex things and reserved the abilities to keep your right position no matter what others are saying or doing. Means is also an important methodology for people to deal the complex things better.

3 ） Collectivist Spirit and Family Values(团队精神和家庭价值 )

• How to deal well with the relationship between individual and collection is the most fundamental problem for any society. There is a very long and strange tradition of individualism in the West. Now we should learn more from the Collectivism in Chinese philosophy and cultures. In the Chinese philosophy, individual is the cell of all society, every cell can get their nature and function when it become an organized part of organization. Society is organized by Individual but has more function and common needs then individual. All individuals are inseparable relay on each other. So they should learn to respect each other, understand each other, help each other, cooperation each other, and so on. All the society should can be a unite and Co-labor, co-life, co-share the solution.

4 ） Social Harmony（社会和谐）

• Toward the harmony among the people and to building a harmony society, is the historical ideas of Chinese people. The Chinese philosophy emphasis that people should stay on friendly terms and avoid irrational conflicts and injustice wars. They insisted that people should respect and help each other. The harmonious relationship is based on the common understanding of virtues. The rulers should treat their people as if they treat their children. To show the respect to the old and to protect youth were regarded as the basic virtues in ancient China. The traditional Chinese virtues, such as diligence and filial piety, have their contemporary meanings in today’s human.

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5, Some Ideas help Chinese Wayto be a success today

• Practice is the Only Standard to Check the Truth• To Liberate Mind and to Search Truth From Facts• Reform and Open Door Policy • Facing to the World, to Modernization, and to the

Future, • No matter the cat is black or white, it is a good cat if and

only if it can catch the mouse • The Socialism with Chinese Characteristics• Development is the hard task and to develop a scientific

developing way

Thanks for your attention!

Ouyang Kang

kouyang@mail.hust.edu.cn