Abstract

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Title:: A Historical Treatise on Philosophy of the Heart of the Newborn:“Discovery of the Child” by Ancient Chinese Thinkers

Keywords:: harmony between man and nature; heart of the newborn; philosophy of the heart of the newborn; “discovery of the child”

Abstract:: The philosophy of the heart of the newborn has a long history in China. Due to the contributions made by the scholars ranging from Lao Zi and Mencius in the pre-Qin period, via the School of Mind in the Song and Ming dynasties, to Luo Rufang and in particular to Li Zhi of the Taizhou School, the philosophy of the heart of the newborn became mature with modern features. Li Zhi’s imprisonment and suicide marked a great setback in the modern transformation of traditional Chinese thoughts, which had been the mission for the philosophy of the heart of the newborn. There are many similarities between the philosophy of the heart of the newborn and modern western theories. For example, the concept of “the new born” or “the heart of the newborn” is similar to Rousseau’s “natural man”, and the philosophy of the heart of the newborn is somewhat commensurate with Rousseau’s pedagogy as well as Marxism. The concept of “the heart of the newborn” can better reflect the thoroughgoing naturalism and thoroughgoing humanism than other concepts. The philosophy of the heart of the newborn advocates that the construction of society, culture, politics, ethics, education and other categories should return to human nature. This has not only set a theoretical foundation for the relief of man’s alienation as well as for obtaining man’s liberation, but pointed out the direction for the development of Chinese culture and the world civilization as well.