Research On Confucian Epistemology Of Pre-qin Dynasty

Epistemology is an eternal topic in Western philosophy.Traditional Western epistemology is a scientific theory of knowledge,which has a specific domain and pursues "truth" in essence.Since the 20th century,as the traditional Western epistemology being challenged,a broad and open sense theory of knowledge came into being.Based on this view of epistemology,the thesis explores and explains the knowledge system of the pre-Qin Confucianism following the development of pre-Qin Confucian knowledge,aiming to clarify the ultimate truth of the pre-Qin Confucianism,its origin,who achieved it and how to achieve.Based on this,the author pays great attention to the following two points in this article:Firstly,the origin of pre-Qin Confucian epistemology and its inheritance;secondly,the integral,deep-rooted organic system of pre-Qin Confucian epistemology.In this thesis,the origin and inheritance of the pre-Qin Confucian epistemology is discussed in a chronological order,accompanied by parallel expounding of "Dao","Xing","Jun Zi"and "learning".In this way,the rich connotation and the complete system of the pre-Qin Confucian epistemology can be presented in a clear-cut manner.The formation of the specific epistemology of Confucianism is determined by the ideological traditions from Yao and Shun Period to the Spring and Autumn Period.On the one hand,the subjective status and value of people in this period was gradually established.Embodied in the relationship between man and Tian,that is,the continuous rise of the Xing of people and the continuous decline of Tian.In this process,the essence and meaning of virtue and ritual became increasingly prominent and played an essential role.On the other hand,rooted in simple and pragmatic practice,the ancient philosophers developed the benevolent practice during the reign of Yao,Shun and Yu into the value of the moral wisdom of communication between all human beings in the Spring and Autumn Period.In other words,the highest truth"Dao",the perfect state of Xing of people in pre-Qin Confucian epistemology,and ideological characteristics that particularly emphasize"practice" find their roots here.As the matter of fact,the Confucian epistemology has its origin in the Confucius'thoughts.By virtue of the inheritance and development of the predecessors' thought,Confucius established an integral and coherent system of knowledge with "Ren" as the core.The question of "knowable" is the prerequisite for studyong Confucius'epistemology.Confucius believes that one can "know" all related to people.The question of "should know" is the core of Confucius' epistemology."Junzi realizes his goal through constant learning" is the essence of the question,which highly and accurately summarized the ideological purpose of Confucius' epistemology,and indicated that Xing is the ultimate concern of Confucious' epistemology.The Confucian epistemology after Confucius,although the specific content may be diverse,could hardly match and surpass that of Confucius.The thought of The Doctrine of Zongyong is the inheritance and development of Confucius' epistemology.The core of its epistemology system is closely connected to"Ren"of Confucius.The Doctrine of Zongyong has special significance in the Confucian epistemology,which is manifested in the concise and rich interpretation of the profound wisdom of Confucius' "Xing and heaven".The Doctrine of Zongyong,inquiring into Xing and Dao,can be regarded to have touched upon the core of Confucian epistemology.Mencius' epistemology is also the further development and creation of Confucius' thought of Ren.The special meaning of it lies in the perfect construction of the doctrine of Xing,which have layed a solid foundation for Confucian epistemology.The reason is that the truth of Confucius' thought of Ren is is essence based on the spirits and Xing.Mencius not only clarifies the goodness that Confucius and Zi Si did not clearly explain,but also holds that "the heart can explain Xing",attaching great importance to the spirits.From then on,a solid foundation has been laid.Xunzi's epistemology is the inheritance of Confucianism.Xunzi,though not directly explaining the benevolence in human Xing,is still a faithful Confucian scholar,being convinced that people have the innate ability and inherent Xing to achieve Dao,knowing the benevolence in them and their deemed ability.Therefore,Xunzi's epistemology is also a complete and coherent theory of human Xing and Dao.Confucius and Mencius rely on the Ren of the heart,while Xunzi relies on people's ability to know or their rationalism.Basically,the construction and focus of Xunzi's epistemology,though not losing the essence of Confucian character,is a creative to some extent.Yizhuan has a unique value in the system of pre-Qin Confucian epistemology,and the reason is that it not only absorbs and intermingles all ideas,but also transforms the thoughts fundamentally to allow them to match with the Confucianism thought.It is safe to say that Yizhuan represents the most valuable achievement of the development of pre-Qin Confucianism.Confucius' epistemology is the comprehensive theory combining Ren and wisdom Ren represents the moral aspect of people,"knowledge" on behalf of the people's knowledge of people Mencius has a systematical and exquisite illustration of the former,while Xunzi is particularly concerned about the role of the latter,and extended and promoted it.Daxue not only emphasizes the moral principles of knowledge,but also affirms the objectivity and necessity of knowledge.It can be described as the integration and communication of moral and knowledge of the overall theory.Therefore,the idea of Daxue can be regarded as the natural development of Confucius' thought of Ren and wisdom and the deep integration of the thought of Mencius and Xun's epistemology.It is truly a great unity of pre-Qin Confucian epistemology and ideology.From the horizontal point of view,there is an in-depth and integral structure with core concepts of "Dao","Xing","Jun Zi" and "learning" existing in the pre-Qin Confucian epistemology.Among them,"Dao" is the ultimate truth "Xing" athe foundation of "Dao","Jun Zi"as the main body of Dao's foundation,and "learning"as the realistic way to "Dao".All constitute a clarified theory of pre-Qin Confucianism epistemology with rich connotation.In other words,the pre-Qin Confucian"knowledge of Xing and Dao" broad in conception and meticulous in details is thus constituted.