Reflection On Liang Shuming’s Ethical Thought "Each-Other-Centeredness"

Liang Shuming believes that the most important feature of Chinese culture is the relationship between people, and putting each other first in the relationship. The theory of "each-other-centeredness"is not only total sum of Chinese traditional ethic thought of Liang Shuming, but also the most important innovative view of his ethical thoughts. The theory, which seems plain and simple, actually contains rich philosophical implications and tensions.The early Liang Shuming was influenced by Dharmalaksana and Bergson’s thought. He also drew from Confucian harmony between man and nature, especially Wang Yangming’s theory of mind ontology. With all these, he established the life ontology, which is the metaphysical base of "each-other-centeredness"theory. Within the theoretical framework of "each-other-centeredness", the most basic question is the value of subject. Regarding subject as moral, developmental and relational (being relational is derived from family life) is the logical starting point of the theory. "Each-other centeredness" embodies rational spirit which mingles feeling with reason. It is premised on the interaction between the subjects.The theory emphasizes that obligation is prioritized in the subjects of communication, and is expressed through etiquette and custom in the ethical practices in order to achieve the unity of knowledge and action. But"each-other-centered"theory is ideal, and it reveals its tensions and difficulties in the perspective of modernity. Therefore, the thesis adapts the methods of hermeneutics, documentary conversation and comparative analysis, from the perspective of ontology, epistemology and ethics, studies and clarifies the metaphysical basis, the logical starting point and theoretical connotations of Liang Shuming’s "each-other-centeredness" ethics thought. The dissertation also tries to explain and discuss, on philosophical basis, the theory which Liang Shuming has not fully elaborated. In the context of modernity, it aims to analyze the uniqueness and inner tension of the thought, and to shed some light on the refection of modernity.