Theories of family in ancient Chinese philosophy

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.

摘要

与西方传统哲学淡化家庭、 忽视家庭的 “无家性” 特征形成鲜明对比, 以儒家学说为代表的中国传统哲学则是一种以 “家” 为其本质的家本主义的理论。 这种家本主义的理论不仅表现在其从一种“根身现象学” 的思想出发, 为我们推出了“身体→两性→家族” 这一家的本质结构, 使家具有突出的亲在性、 性感性和历时性的性质; 而且还表现在这种家哲学的结构和性质实际上已泛化于中国古代伦理学、 宇宙论、 宗教观和认识论等一切领域中, 使整个中国传统文化都打上了极其深刻的家的烙印。 在人类“家道没落” 的现代主义的今天, 对这一古老的家哲学的再认识无疑具有积极的理论意义。 其既有助于我们重新评价“家”在人类哲学中的不可或缺的地位, 同时又为当代社会家的回归、 家的重建提供重要的思想参照和奠定坚实的理论基础。