| Summary: | 博士 === 輔仁大學 === 哲學研究所 === 95 === That I choose the Ming theories in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period as the topic of my doctoral dissertation implies an intensive motivation of humane concern. I think the issue of “destiny” is the deepest one of all issues and it is the closest to human itself, for it is a key for probing into the collective existence of human. Through the meditation on destiny, freedom and other similar issues, we can find the way of resting and securing the body and establishing the inner heavenly command for human being in the contemporary ages. Secondly, through discussion on “destiny”, we can reflect on the mental difficulties faced by people nowadays, such as isolation, apartness, narcissism, melancholy and anxiety, and bring forward a solution for these phenomena. The reason why I choose the philosophers in the Pre-Chin Period as the object for researching the Ming theories lies in the fact that a group of philosophers who had the most creativity and heuristic thinking in China came out in this period. In other words, the development of Chinese philosophy in all the following periods is just the further interpretation and deepening of the philosophy of this period. Similarly, we can find the prototype of the late Ming theories in the thoughts and saying of the philosophers in this period.
This dissertation adopts the research method of centering on “core concepts”, that is to say, the exploration of the Ming theories in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period is carried out by focusing on the “Ming” concept, and the theories are discussed from two directions, “concept cluster” and “issue cluster”, at the same time. In the aspect of “concept cluster”, this dissertation tries to find the meanings of the terms Ming, heaven, morality, justice, omen, time, nature, power, meet and happen in the Ming theories in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period, and traces the etymological meaning of these words in the small seal, Bronze inscriptions, and Oracle bones. In the aspect of “issue cluster”, the author firstly, divides the philosophers of the Pre-Chin Period into two schools: the Advocating Ming school and the Negating Ming school; secondly, explain their Ming theories from the angle of 8 issues; and finally, classify the above issues into 3 parts. The thoughts of Advocating Ming can be summarized in 3 parts: the first, the advent of the “Ming” issue; the second, the meaning of “Ming”; and the third, the attitudes of the philosophers over “Ming” and their views of life based on their attitudes. The thoughts of Negating Ming also can be discussed in 3 parts: the first, the advent of “Negating Ming”, the second, the meaning of “Negating Ming”; and the third, the attitude over “Ming” and the views of life. When discussing the Ming theories in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period, the author first asks himself and tries to imagine under what situation the philosophers faced the issue of Ming and what efforts they made to solve this problem. This method is the attitude of “Comprehending Sympathy”, and this attitude will make the researcher emphasize the philosophers' experience and feeling of life process, i.e., the mental or emotional aspect of the philosophers. Without reaching this aspect, we could not see the lively philosophers exist behind their theories.
As to the structure of this dissertation, it consists of 5 chapters. Chapter 1: The Origin of the Term “Ming”. Firstly, this chapter determines the way to discuss the Ming theories. Secondly, it probes into the origin of the character “Ming” from the etymology point of view. Finally, it discusses the relations of the concepts “heaven”, “morality”, “justice”, “omen”, “time”, “nature”, “power”, “meet” and “happen” with “Ming” in the literatures of the Pre-Chin Period. Chapter 2: The Ming Theories in the Shang and Chou Dynasties. This chapter discusses the Ming theories of the Shang Dynasty, the Western Zhou Dynasty, and the Eastern Zhou Dynasty in sequence. Chapter 3: The “Advocating Ming” Theories in the Philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period. Here is mainly discussed the “advocating Ming” theories of Confucianism, Taoism and Ying-Yang Chia. Chapter 4: The “Negating Ming” Theories in the Philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period. The “negating Ming” theories of Mohism and Legalism are taken as the object of research. Chapter 5: The Influence and Contemporary Meaning of the “Ming” Theories in the Philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period. This chapter firstly discusses the theodicy issue in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period. Secondly, it explains the influence and contemporary meaning of the “Ming” theories in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period. Finally, it deeply probes into the influence and contemporary meaning of the “negating Ming” theory in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period. Since the Chin and Han Dynasties, not a few philosophers have inherited and carried forward the “advocating Ming” theories and the “negating Ming” theories in the philosophy of the Pre-Chin Period, and endowed them with brand-new meaning of the age from their social standpoint. Therefore, what is really concerned in this dissertation and what is the urgent task of today is to make the ancient wisdom give off shiny lights in the society of today. It is expected that this research can lay a primary foundation for the combination philosophical research and social care.
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