The epistemology of Yin-Yang balancing as the root of Chinese cultural traditions: The indigenous features and geocentric implications

Peter Ping Li

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingBook Chapterpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Most Eastern traditional philosophies, such as Taoism, from China, share a set of core themes that constitute a philosophy of wisdom (science-art integration), in contrast to Western philosophies with a focus on knowledge (science-art separation). This chapter argues that the epistemological system of yin-yang balancing is the root of Eastern culture traditions. Building on this theme, the chapter elaborates on the unique features of yin-yang balancing, in contrast to Aristotle's formal logic and Hegel's dialectics in the West. It is posited that yin-yang balancing is more sophisticated (rather than naïve) than all dialectical logic for paradox management, since it is the only system that can truly accommodate and appreciate paradox and has the potential to absorb all Western systems into a geocentric (East-meets-West) meta-system. The chapter concludes with an application of yin-yang balancing to the geocentric integration of the Eastern philosophy of wisdom with the Western philosophy of knowledge, toward a new geocentric meta-paradigm.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Psychological and Cultural Foundations of East Asian Cognition
Subtitle of host publicationContradiction, Change, and Holism
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages35-79
Number of pages45
ISBN (Print)9780199348541
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • China
  • Dialectics
  • Geocentric meta-paradigm
  • Philosophy of wisdom
  • Taoism
  • Yin-yang balancing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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