Research On The Doctrine Of Ecological Ethics In Traditional Chinese Culture

As a branch of applied ethics which emphasizes on the ecological values as well as the moral criteria on ecological issues, ecological ethics originated in the intermediate stage of the 20^th century with a booming prosperity during 1970s, and turns out to be a highlight in many official administrations and what is more, a heated subject for some major UN motions and discussions in contemporary times. In some sense, it is believed that deterioration of the ecological environment serves as an immediate impetus in the formation and further development of ecological ethics.Nowadays, the serious environmental problems confronting before mankind compel us to reflect on the relationship between man and nature, and reexa mine our views on nature and ecology, thus to find out a reasonable and feasible solution to the environmental problems both theoretically and practically. Hence, the value-borne doctrines of Chinese traditional environmental ethics gradually shaped themselves to be a worthy reference and also a research hotspot in the current field of environmental ethics.In China, study of ecological ethics in ancient culture initiated long ago and never stops. Famous scholars such as Zhang Dainian and Ji Xianlin have made great efforts and called for further research in this particular and prosperous field. And many young researchers also put forward valuable opinions on the subject and bear fruitful achievement. It is rather likely that a clear image of ecological ethics could be gradually sketched out by poring upon those fabulous researches.Though there are complex reasons why only ancient Chinese culture still exists while the other great ancient cultures had all declined and disappeared, it can not be ignored that glory of ecological ethics plays a positive role in the survival and prosperity of Chinese agricultural civilization. To some degree, ecological ethics can be regarded as the moral and ethical impetus which promotes the smooth and continuous development of Chinese culture.It is totally wrong to ignore the ancient Chinese ecological ethics in the study of Chinese history and it is highly necessary for us to have a thorough study in this field. Based on these researches, this paper makes a thorough study of ancient Chinese ecological ethics briefly and basically from the doctrines of traditional Chinese culture such as Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism so as to provide theoretical support for the construction of modern ecological ethics and afford a strong historical and cultural backing for the academic education and environmental protection.This paper takes it as the moral power which brings the continuous development of the Chinese culture. Considering its influences on the Chinese history and culture, the ancient Chinese ecological ethics functions in different models. On the one hand, it focuses on the delineation of individual thoughts. On the other hand, it tries to view the culture as a whole.The author believes that the present policy guidelines of sustainable development in China should be based on its own views on ecological ethics, in concrete words, the ecological and philosophical value views on the relative harmony and correspondent evolution between man and nature, the ecological value views on a perfect combination of scientific rationality and value rationality, and the views of ecological practice on the integration of material pursuit and humanistic solicitude. Only in this way, can we cast off the negative effects on our present application of sustainable development brought by the modernized industrialization, and build up a reasonable as well as harmonic relationship between man and nature, which will later serve as a powerful guideline in solving various problems emerged in the application of reform and social development.As a conclusion, symbolized in the harmony between man and nature, the traditional Chinese doctrine of ecological ethics displays great significance in the transformational stage for a new civilization currently, not only for its rational and feasible thoughts from philosophical, ethical and spiritual angles, but also for its reasonable and effective enlightenment and guidance for the application of sustainable development from the practical angle. We firmly believe that based on a further rational promotion, outstanding doctrines of the traditional Chinese ecological ethics will surely help direct us in remodeling the harmony between man and nature, and achieve a concordant, healthy and sustainable development integrated man and nature.