Metaphysics in Daoism and Confucianism

Subject Areas : Philosophy

طاهره توکّلی ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2008-01-15 Accepted : 2008-03-12 Published : 2007-09-23

Keywords: metaphysics, Confucius, Confucianism, Dao, Daoism, Tian&#x0D, &#x0D, (Heaven), Nature, society,

Abstract :

The structure of Daoism is similar to that of Confucianism: both expressa this-worldly concern for the concrete details of experimental existenceand tangible phenomena for men rather than pursuing abstractions andideals, or setting up the logical and philosophical rules or dogmaticprinciples. Because of this fact, metaphysics in China is different fromwhat was discussed in Greeck or Islamic philosophy. Explanation ofUltimate Reality, including kind of sacredness, is one of the mostsignificant problems of ancient chinese metaphysics. In Daoism andConfucianism, two concepts can be considered from this point of view:Tian or Heaven and Dao. Both Daoism and Confucianism conceive theworld as the trinity of heaven, earth, and man, emphasizing theconstitution of harmony and consistency between them. However, thereexist serious distinctions especially in their interpretation of Dao.Confucius intended moral perfection and improvement of social systemand recognized Dao in depth of tradition and society; while in Daoism,Dao is the axis of everything and the mere Truth or standard man shouldaccept its harmonious flow and conform himself with it. As a result, man'sfelicity is perceived in nature not in society. In China, nature has a widemeaning, ranging from material phenomena to non-material ones in bothregions of heaven and human beings. Finally, Confucianism can beunderstood as a Humanistic school that pays attention to metaphysics justfor its influence on human being, and Daoism as a Naturalistic one inviteshuman being to discover the rules of sensible nature by a metaphysicalapproach