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ABSTRACT
As an idealist form of realism, or realist form of idealism, the system of ‘All-under-Heaven’ (tianxia 天下) seeks to find a rational and optimal solution to the problem of political conflict. However, it does not purport to offer the promise of universal happiness for all. Rather, this system envisages the possibility of another world; one of peace, general security, and civilizational vigor. In this sense, it is radically different from various proclamations of ‘the end of history’. The following aspects of the notion of tianxia are particularly worth emphasizing: firstly, ‘All-under-Heaven’ is not a utopia at all, but rather an ideal that can actually be realized. Secondly, the goal of a politics of tianxia is to resolve the problem of conflict by transforming hostility into hospitality, thus offering a new conception of politics beyond the struggle for power. Thirdly, the vision of ‘All-under-Heaven’ is grounded in three constitutive concepts, namely the ‘internalization of the world’, relational rationality, and ‘Confucian Improvement’, which together constitute a politics capable of transforming hostility into hospitality.
Acknowledgment
Ady Van den Stock, the translator of this work, is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Languages and Cultures, Ghent University. His research is focused on modern Chinese philosophy, religion, and intellectual history, specifically “ethnic minority philosophy” (shaoshu minzu zhexue), Sino-Islamic traditions of thought, and twentieth-century and contemporary developments in Confucianism.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 For an analysis of the concept of ‘idealist realism’, (see Zhao Citation2018, 23–36).
2 ‘When you have doubts about any great matter, consult with your own mind; consult with your high ministers and officers; consult with the common people; consult the tortoise-shell and divining stalks. If you, the shell, the stalks, the ministers and officers, and the common people, all agree about a course, this is what is called a great concord, and the result will be the welfare of your person and good fortune to your descendants. If you, the shell, and the stalks agree, while the ministers, and officers, and the common people oppose, the result will be fortunate. If the ministers and officers, with the shell and stalks, agree, while you and the common people oppose, the result will be fortunate. If the common people, the shell, and the stalks agree, while you, with the ministers and officers, oppose, the result will be fortunate. If you and the shell agree, while the stalks, with the ministers and officers, and the common people, oppose, internal operations will be fortunate, and external undertakings unlucky. When the shell and stalks are both opposed to the views of men, there will be good fortune in being still, and active operations will be unlucky.’ Book of Documents (Shangshu 尚书), ‘The Great Plan’ (Hongfan 洪范), quoted from the translation by James Legge (Jizi, n.d.)
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Notes on contributors
Tingyang Zhao 赵汀阳
Tingyang Zhao is a Professor of Philosophy at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. His work is focused mainly on metaphysics, political philosophy and philosophy of history. He has published more than ten books, some translated into English, French and German, as well as other languages. Books include: Tianxia tout sous un même ciel. Les Editions du Cerf. Paris, 2018. Redefining a philosophy for world governance. Macmillan, London, 2018. Alle Unter Einem Himmel. Suhrkamp Verlag, Berlin, 2019. Du ciel à la terre (co-authored with Régis Debray), Editions des Arènes. Paris, 2014. Un dieu ou tous les dieux (co-authored with Alain Le Pichon). Cent Mille Milliards. Paris, 2019. All under Heaven: The Tianxia system for a possible world order. University of California Press. California, 2021.