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Frontiers of Philosophy in China

ISSN 1673-3436

ISSN 1673-355X(Online)

CN 11-5743/B

Postal Subscription Code 80-983

Front. Philos. China    2024, Vol. 19 Issue (3) : 229-253    https://doi.org/10.3868/s030-013-024-0014-8
Family-State Ethical Justice and the Civilizational Form of Guojia
FAN Hao
School of Humanities, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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Abstract

Both Western and Chinese civilizations have constructed ethical worlds based on the structures of family and state. In the Western “country” civilization, the fate of this ethical world is marked by a “tragic sentiment,” whereas in the Chinese Guojia civilization, the cultural conditions and ethical spirit are characterized by “family-state sentiment.” This sentiment transcends mere family spirit or patriotism, embodying an integrated ethical sentiment that encompasses the individual, family, state, and all under Heaven. The ethical wisdom of family-state justice in Guojia civilization comprises both everyday wisdom and extraordinary wisdom. Everyday wisdom permeates the entire life and existence of individuals, manifesting through various national festivals. Extraordinary wisdom refers to the ethical wisdom that reconciles conflicts between family and state, historically and logically unfolding into two traditional forms: the state-centered “loyalty to the country” and the family-centered “mutual concealment out of kinship loyalty.” The issue of family-state ethical justice has accompanied the century-long process of modern Chinese civilization, from the Chinese revolution to the reform and opening-up period. This process reflects a dialectical progression of “ethical construction—ethical revolution—ethical liberation.” Modern Chinese civilization remains the Guojia civilization but has evolved into new forms and faces new challenges. It is imperative to achieve creative transformation and innovative development of the Guojia civilization through communal ethical justice, contributing to the creation of a new form of human civilization marked by distinct Chinese characteristics.

Keywords Guojia civilization      family-state ethical justice      ordinary ethical wisdom      “extraordinary” ethical wisdom      modern Chinese civilization     
Issue Date: 24 September 2024
 Cite this article:   
FAN Hao. Family-State Ethical Justice and the Civilizational Form of Guojia[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2024, 19(3): 229-253.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/10.3868/s030-013-024-0014-8
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/Y2024/V19/I3/229
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