Harmonising with heaven and earth : reciprocal harmony and Xunzi’s environmental ethics
Xunzi’s philosophy provide a rich resource for understanding how ethical relationships between humans and nature can be articulated in terms of harmony. In this paper, I build on his ideas to develop the concept of reciprocal harmony, which requires us to reciprocate those who make our lives liveabl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2022
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/155968 |
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| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | Xunzi’s philosophy provide a rich resource for understanding how ethical relationships between humans and nature can be articulated in terms of harmony. In this paper, I build on his ideas to develop the concept of reciprocal harmony, which requires us to reciprocate those who make our lives liveable. In the context of the environment, I argue that reciprocal harmony generates moral obligations towards nature, in return for the existential debt that humanity owes towards heaven and earth. This can be used as a normative basis for an environmental ethic that enables humanity and nature to flourish together. |
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