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Theories of family in ancient Chinese philosophy |
ZHANG Zailin , |
School of Humanities
and Social Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an
710049, China; |
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Abstract Unlike traditional Western philosophy, which places no special emphasis on the importance of family structure, traditional Chinese philosophy represented by Confucianism is a set of theories that give family a primary position. With family as the foundation, a complete framework of “human body → two genders → family and clan” is formed. Therefore, family in Chinese philosophy is existent, gender-interactive and diachronic. It should also be noted that family also plays a fundamental role in Chinese theories on cosmology, religion, and many other subjects. In other words, Chinese culture as a whole is imprinted with reflections on family. Nowadays, as the value of family becomes less prominent, re-examining ancient Chinese philosophy will undoubtedly bear theoretical significance. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese philosophy can also offer an ideological framework for the re-construction of family values in the contemporary world.
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Keywords
homelessness in Western philosophy
traditional Chinese family philosophy
family with ethical significance
family of universe
family with religious significance
family with cognitive significance cognition
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Issue Date: 05 September 2009
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