ABSTRACT
Attention now shifts from the philosophies of India to those of classical China (c.600-200 BCE). The traditions introduced here, and in the next chapter, took shape independently of those covered in the previous three chapters. In Chapter 6 we see cross-fertilization between these two streams of Asian thought, but this was a much later development. Any introduction to Chinese philosophy must mention Kongzi (Confucius), so that is where we begin. Then, after looking at a form of philosophy called Mohism which emerged in opposition to Kongzi’s teaching, this chapter introduces two leading early Confucians and examines some of their most important ideas. Key questions addressed in this chapter are: ‘Is human nature innately good or bad?’ and ‘Should an ethical person be impartial?’.
