Analysis On The Ethic Value Of Feng Youlan’s Life Realm Theory

Feng Youlan put forward "the four realms of life" in the book "new hominid", based on China traditional Confucian philosophy and absorbed the western rationalism theory. Then his life philosophy system was formalized. Feng Youlan divided the realm of life from high to low into four realms:Natural realm, the utilitarian realm, moral realm, the realm of heaven and earth according to people "the different degree of understandings", layer upon layer. The behavior of human in natural state is obedient to their custom. Everything is stemming from their nature or biological nature, and have no awareness with the lowest level of understanding; People in utilitarian realm consciously aware of their behavior and purposes, their behavior is to pursuit of "his own interest", the consequences may benefit others, may also be harmful to others, but motives are selfish, and it is to satisfy people’s material needs and spiritual needs; The behavior of human in moral state is "with due diligence", have a higher awareness, and they think social justice and benefit are integrated, human and the society as the same. They stress the "righteousness" and "public", so people in this realm is a "sage"; the realm of heaven and earth is the highest realm, their understandings are in the highest degree, this realm of people are "saints". They realized the man is a member of the universe beyond the whole society, and can achieve the realm and cultivation of "harmony between man and nature".This paper mainly analyzes Feng Youlan’s life realm theory from the angle of ethics, and compares the four realms with Taoism natural view, the traditional Confucian concept of unity, Kong Meng and Neo Confucianism and Western utilitarianism ethics thought dividedly, to reveal the life realm theory contains rich ethical value and significances. Thus, it summed up that the life realm is not only conducive to the realization of the life’s value, but also promote the all-round development of people. The "harmony" thought in "the realm of heaven and earth" has important guiding significances and theoretical value to the contemporary Chinese socialist modernization construction. At the same time, this paper also points out the existing limitations of life state, and analyzes the causes and solutions.