The Ethical Spirits Of Tian(?)

While the "death of God" precipitated the advent of secular society,the Chinese society develops into a "Tian-less" post-ethical one.The disenchantment of Tian and the rupture of its value systems lead to a variety of social evils—the loss of "home",the ultimate ground for ethical behavior etc.hence,to reshape the metaphysics and values of Tian turns to be the solution to the problems.As a first-order category in Chinese philosophy and ethics,Tian entails various connotations."Tian does not speak yet manifest in actions and events(Mencius,Wan Zhang)."How and what does Tian manifest itself?Based on spiritual philosophy from Sino-Western perspective,the spirit contains "one" and "many".The spirit has access to Being via the ethical-moral system,while Being is taken to be the embodiment of reality and meaning.Therefore,it is appropriate to interpret Tian through the spirit so as to manifest its ethical dimension.Through incremental growing process,Tian transforms into the highest ethical being.As such,Tian also refers to the world of ethical reality.In brief,"Tian-Being-ethics-moral entity" comprises a chain of meaning.The logic-history-reality system and the "Substance-Function" dichotomy contributed to rigorous arguments.The first part denotes the "principles" of Tian.Chapter one defines the logical development of Tian in ethical dimension.Tian grows from natural substance,supernatural and rational elements.Ultimately,it turns into the subject in the spiritual world.The unification of cultivated entity and ethical entity converted into an ethical entity.As the highest ethical entity,Tian contains all forms of modality in its development.Chapter two expounds the logical function of Tian in ethics.It defines a new Being in its ethical metaphysics:it produces a world of meaning through the transformation from Tian to ethics.Tian and virtue subsists the world.The dialectic-ethical system interprets the existence of the world so as to manifest the source of virtue.The second part focus on the Way of Tian.Chapter three resort to the historical development of Tian in its ethical dimension.Historically,the meaning of Tian has changed from the sky,the heavenly phenomenon to heavenly court and give rise to the spirit of Heavenly lord.Later development consists of the Mandate of Tian-the Way of Tian-the Virtue of Tian-the Ethics of Tian-the Principles of Tian.The Principles of Tian integrate all phases of Tian and its meaning,denoting the existence of the world in reason and ethical synthesis.Chapter four revealed the historical function of Tian as ethics and spirituality.It shapes the particularity of Chinese ethics based on ethical metaphysics,which is both"ego-centered" virtue ethics but also "duty-oriented" normative ethics.The ethical feature of Tian manifests the ethical,emotional and moral standards.Tian builds the spirituality of Chinese ethics.The last part concerns Tian and its Mandate.Chapter five and six enumerate the function of Tian in spirituality.The logical and historical Tian will eventually return to the present.Today,numerous risks confront Tian:externally,the ecological crisis may lead to the destruction of the world so that Tian will not subsist.An ecological value system based on the Tian of ethics will contribute to a theoretical foundation for the solution of the current crisis.Internally,modern crisis of faith makes men vulnerable to everything.Tian lost its glamor and transcendence as men's last resort to truth and destiny.The return of Tian-oriented ethical system not only helps to fill in the vacuum of the present Chinese society in faith and value,it also helps the Chinese to find their ultimate modality of faith,thereby to establish peace and tolerance in the faith of Tian-Being-World.Going through the Odyssey,the search for Tian manifests its ethical dimension,different from previous philosophical interpretations,through spiritual philosophy.The new interpretations integrate a plurality of meanings and orients toward men's ultimate reality and faith.As the study of Tian emerges,more research is required to further the study from varied perspectives.