The Unity Of Knowledge And Action: Donald J.munro's Chinese Philosophy Research And Application Approach

Donald J.Munro?1931—?,received A.B.in Philosophy from Harvard University and Ph.D.in Philosophy from Columbia University.Dr.Munro is a world renown philosopher,educator and sinologist,professor emeritus from Asian Languages and Cultures Department and Philosophy Department,Michigan University,as well as research fellow from Center for Chinese Studies,Michigan University.He is the author of the influential trilogy on the concept of human nature throughout the history of Chinese philosophy: “The Concept of Man in Early China”?1969?,“The Concept of Man in Contemporary China”?1977?and “Images of Human Nature: A Sung Portrait”?1988?.In addition to his education career,his other works include over 30 articles and “The Imperial Style of Inquiry in Twentieth Century China”?1996?,“A Chinese Ethics for the New Century”?2005?and “Ethics in Action: Workable Guidelines for Public and Private Choices”?2008?.He also edited “Individualism and Holism: Studies in Confucian and Taoist Values”?1988?.The thesis entitled “The Unity of Knowledge and Action: Donald J.Munro's Research on Chinese Confucianism Philosophy and Application Approach” is a case study of world philosopher and American sinologist,with intention of studying Munro's sinologist works,research approaches and other contributions included,aiming to present reflections on the modern revival of Chinese traditional culture and its growth in the overseas area from the very unique American sinologist perspective in the platform of whole world.With focus on the collection of Munro's publication,reflections,discoveries,assumptions and suggestions on Chinese Confucian and Daoist philosophy,the thesis organizes and introduces his contribution to Sinology from four segments: Chapter 1 Munro Becoming of a Sinologist.This chapter introduces how Munro embarked on the Sinologist profession from aspects of family,education,overseas studies,and research journey.Chapter 2 The Trilogy on the concept of human nature via “human” in China.Introducing the trilogy,which is based on his studies from Pre-Qin?the Palaeolithic period?to implications going to the 21^stcentury,presents his contribution on aspects of culture he uncovers such as “natural equality” or “descriptive equality”,“the malleability of human”,“clustering”,“fact-value fusion”,as well as his varied research approaches.Chapter 3 Research on Applying Ethics and His Application Practice.This chapter discusses his other three books: “The Imperial Style of Inquiry in Twentieth Century China”?1996?,“A Chinese Ethics for the New Century: The Ch'ien Mu Lectures in History and Culture,and Other Essays on Science and Confucian Ethics”?2005?and “Ethics in Action: Workable Guidelines for Public and Private Choices”?2008?.The concepts he uncovers and creates include “the imperial style of inquiry”,“structural imaging”,“social hierarchy with a link to nature structure”,“Reciprocal Altruism”,“Two—Realm Utilitarianism”,his theories on “intuition and five ultimate desires with a link to human biology”,and promotes “an ethical and natural principal that works”.Chapter 4 Munro's Confucianism Philosophy Research Characteristics,Innovation and Contribution,which focuses on presenting the strong link of Munro with Neo—Confucians American,introduces and analyses his research characteristics of Confucian philosophy,including anthropology,historical approach,cross —cultural perspective,multiple scientific approaches and starting with “into the classics” for original ideas before inventing new ideas.His work is worldly recognized for strong study of the classical texts in original languages,inventing and using new philosophical terms,the “empathetic method”,emulation of models as a way of learning,educational principal of Zh?xíng Héy??the unity of knowledge and action?and application of theories with action in community and the society.In summary,Munro's sinology research is based on Chinese Mencian Confucianism Daoist tradition,applying multiple traditional and modern approaches and methods,notedly anthropology,comparative philosophy,historic,empathetic,evolution psychology and biology,taking his research to the depth of Chinese Confucian traditional culture,uncovered artifacts from classical scripts including Analects,Mencius,Zhuangzi,etc.,restored concepts,ideals including “Dé”,“Chéng”,“clusters” of which are embedded in cultural fabrics nowadays.He is the first scholar who uncovered the concepts of natural equality or equality in description in Chinese culture.From his research he highlighted Chinese human characteristics such as malleability of man,emulation of moral models,empathy,clustering of heart and mind.He found evidences that support the characteristics and their impact in society,among which the most important ones include the unity of Ti?n and Rén,the unity of Wù and Self,,reciprocity,self-cultivation,fostering and nurturing education theory,Fact-Value Fusion,three folds of meaning for Zh?xíng Héy?,etc.Munro not only conducts research on the Confucian tradition of Chinese ethnics and meta-ethics study throughout his life,but also applies them in his lifelong educational career,research work and daily life.He blends together Thomas Munro and the Deweyan pragmatism and Táng J?nyì's Zh?xíng héy? nicely and creates his own way of Zh?xíng héy?.He's a J?nzi whose action embodies the meaning of Zh?ngx? hùwàng?blending Chinese and the Western learning from each other?and Zh?ngx? hébì?the perfect fusion of the East and the West?.Munro 's Chinese philosophy research offers passages for the Chinese to gain insights into the growth of Confucian tradition and American Sinology,and provides an academic platform for Chinese and American cultural exchange cross—culturally.Munro and many other scholars are developing Confucianism in America.