A Research On The Ethical Viewpoints Of Matteo Ricci

The doctoral dissertation tries to make a systematic investigation on the ethical viewpoints of Matteo Ricci in the specified historical process from the visual angles of Comparative Culture. This investigation of the dissertation adheres to the consistence of logic and history, unites organically theories with histories. It will reach the intellectual goal that one masters the law and nature of the ethical viewpoints of Matteo Ricci. Moreover, this doctoral dissertation attempts to regard the ethical viewpoints of Matteo Ricci as an important component part of Christian ethics in China and Sino-Western cultural relations in order to have a better understanding of the substantial contents of Sino-Western relations. As an academic exchange, the dissertation will be conducive to the promotion of understanding between Sino-Western scholars.This doctoral dissertation contains 8 parts as follows:IntroductionChapter 1 The Background of the Forming of Matteo Ricci's Ethical ViewpointsChapter 2 Matteo Ricci's Ethical Viewpoints of Catholic TheologyChapter 3 Matteo Ricci's Ethical Viewpoints on Communication and FriendshipCharter 4 Matteo Ricci's Ethical Viewpoints on the Other AspectsCharter 5 Matteo Ricci's Integration of Sino-Western CulturesConclusionReferenceThe Introduction analyses the structure of the theme, the goal of thestudies, the scholastic sense and the outline of the relative research, and briefs Matteo Ricci's career and his roles in the Sino-Western cultural communication. It elaborates that although Ricci came to China for the Jesuit mission, he objectively started an overall, equal and substantial dialogue between Chinese and Western civilizations. In the dialogue he and other Jesuits tried to adapt Christianity to Confucianism, which caused both to be harmonious to a certain extent. The dialogue indeed promoted an communication and understanding between two cultures, and presents the lenient and dialogue spirit of modern religion. His works in Chinese and Italian remains a good example of religious and cultural dialogue today. The Dialogues between different religions and different cultures embody the spirit of modern plurarlism and conciliationism. A real dialogue is inter-subjective, based on an equal intercommunication which is involved in respect, sympathy and even friendship. Moreover, one interlocutor should admit the other's independent value and existent space.In Chapter 1, it generally analyses the historical and cultural background of the formation of Matteo Ricci's ethical viewpoints. The research reveals the influence of the Renaissance and the Reformation on Ricci, and the ideological basis of some humanistic factors which shows his leniency to different cultures, his study of Chinese language and culture, and his interest in spreading Christianity by an academic way. And it makes an exploratory thinking of the relation between Catholics and science, and Jesuit Society's attitude toward science which is different from our prevailing viewpoints.In Chapter 2, it makes a systematic research on Ricci's Catholic ethical viewpoints combined with his Catholic theological viewpoints. In Middle Age, Catholic theology were absolutely dominant, with other disciplines such as philosophy, ethics and science as its maidservants. Ricci's ethical viewpoints was based on his theological viewpoints and so we have to understand the latter before we try a research on the former.In our academic circles, it is generally believed that Ricci concealed Catholic enlightenment truth in order to make his adaptation and communion of Confucianism. The dissertation elaborates that he failed to evade crucial problems about Trinity and sin difficult to understand for to Chinese people although he spoke a few of them publicly because of the limitations of Chinese cultural background.In Chapter 3, it explains Ricci's viewpoints about the patterns, attitudes and intentions of interpersonal communication. It links to his viewpoints of making friends. It also points out that Ricci...