On Dai Zhen’s View Of Ethics And Desire And The Idea Of Individual In Modern China

The exploration to human being is the start point of every thinks and the destination of every ideology and theory. In modern times, the individual is regarded as a natural person, rational person and economic man who get away from the restraint of morality. The modern individual theory was derived from the Western, but at the absence of traditional concept the theories couldn’t be received by Chinese society. The idea that confirm the human desire plays the key role in this course, which is expressed thorough and demonstrated fully in Daizhen’s view of ethics and desire.The view of ethics and desire was proposed by Daizhen on the basis of that he had been criticizing the New-Confucianism’ authority which has been dissimilar to cruel feudal etiquette. Entangled in drawing the distinguishing of heavenly principle and human desire,as the same time, Neo-Confucianism overemphasize the universality and absoluteness of heavenly principle,which had been produce very negative influence to the generation of natural person. Neo-Confucianism had been turning into official ideology and the model answer of imperial examination, especially in the period of the Ming and Qing Dynasty, the emperor has been utilizing it and making it turn to cruel feudal etiquette. Since Ming and Qing dynasties, the criticism about New-Confucianism oppresses human nature had been continuing to evolve.Daizhen,who have been making the conclusion in theory about these trend of thought.Daizhen claim that the heavenly principles is only an objective laws that could classify the everything rather than a moral principle which root in god. As the same time,Daizhen consider that the humanity is just means a uniqueness that human be human. So,in Daizhen’s theory, goodness of human nature is elucidated to a brain’s capability of ethical discrimination.Four fields demonstration taken by Daizhen to declare that the human nature desires is legitimate. Firstly,human nature desires is declared that is there as a matter of fact and is couldn’t eliminated; Secondly,Daizhen put forward that the human nature desires is not an evil which deemed by Neo-Confucianism,but will promote the human’s development; Thirdly,Daizhen indicate that the human nature desires is not depend on metaphysical heavenly principles,on the contrary,the heavenly principles is root in idiographic human nature desires. Finally,Daizhen has been finishing his theory of goodness of human nature which admit the legitimation of human nature desires via emphasize the function of brain.Daizhen’s view of Ethics and Desire exert a very great influence in later generati on, any scholars of Qing dynasty,like Lingtingkan,Ruanyuan and Gongzizhen,affected by Daizhen. Since modern times,Daizhen’s theory has been sparkplugged by Liushipei,Lia ngqichao,Hushi et al, which become more and more popular, and had been explaining by scholars of modern times, which be used as the theoretical resources of revolutiona ry concept of individual. Firstly,which Daizhen justify the human desires is the theore tic resource of that the thinkers in the modern times demolish the old human nature t heory. Secondly, which Daizhen emphasis the person’s intelligence is the key factor of that the thinkers in the modern times construct the new human nature theory. Lastly, which the specialty of that which opposite the New-Confucianism’ authority become th e spiritual inspiration of the thinkers in the modern times who oppose the feudal ideol ogy and advocate the human freedom.