Rethinking Asia: the genealogy of critical thinking in East Asia

ABSTRACT

The concept and connotation of critical thinking are formed based on human activities and social development in Europe and America, while relevant studies in East Asia are lacking. How to deconstruct the characteristics, formation and deep reasons of critical thinking in the East based on its continuous and dynamic human activities is still a challenge. Taking China as the research object, we reveal that the East also produces logic-based and intense critical thinking, and gradually integrates the characteristics of inclusiveness, euphemism, and result-oriented noun in the evolution, which can be attributed to the influence of war, religion, and nomadic and agricultural conflicts. This study is of great significance to the in-depth fundamental understanding of oriental critical thinking. It also holds promise to promote critical thinking education in East Asian countries and the cultural exchanges between the East and the West.

KEYWORDS:

• Critical thinking
• cultural dynamics
• critical thinking construction
• social practice
• critical thinking evolution

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Mohism(墨子) was a school of philosophy that emerged during the eastern Zhou Dynasty（770BC-476BC）in China and was famous for its special study of ‘natural sciences’ among the Hundard Schools of Thought in the pre-Qin dynasty (21st centuryBC-221BC).

2. The concept of ideas of Yin and Yang can not only represent the existence of opposites between things, but also represent the existence of contradictions between interrelated things, which can be transformed into each other. It represents the logical thinking of analysing things in ancient China, and has become the standard for Chinese people to deal with problems and make judgements.

3. The Analects of Confucius（《论语》） is a collection of quotations complied from Confucius’ words and deeds by his disciples and later disciples of Confucius, a thinker and educator during the Spring and Autumn Period(770BC-476BC). This collection of quotations reflects the political views, ethical thoughts, moral concepts and educational principles of Confucius and the Confucian School.

4. From The Analects of Confucius（《论语》）: Learning without thought is Labour lost; thinking without learning is perilous（学而不思则罔，思而不学则殆）. It refers to the importance of thinking and reflection.

5. A classic Chinese ancient mythology tells the story of Kuafu（夸父）, the leader of the Kuafu （夸父）tribe in the Yellow Emperor’s reign (2700 BC − 2000 BC), who raced with the Sun and eventually died of thirst and became the real thing in the world. It reflects the strong desire of ancient Chinese people to understand and conquer nature.

6. The story mainly tells about the ancient times, the sky at the same time ten suns, brought severe drought to the people, in order to save the people, Hou Yi（后羿） shot down nine Suns. In the ancient times, when the productivity level was low, people struggled with the harsh natural environment, dared to conquer the nature and the spirit of indomitable struggle.

7. They all come from ancient Chinese classic fairy tales: Da Yu the Great controlling(大禹治水) the water, Jing Wei the sea reclamation（精卫填海）, and Nu Wa the sky mending（女娲补天）. Through these three mythological figures, they express the strong desire of ancient Chinese labouring people to explore and conquer nature and the spirit of struggle without fear of hardship.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. The Contention of a hundred schools of thought refers to the emergence of intellectuals from different schools in the Spring and Autumn period (770BC-476BC) and Warring States period (475BC-221BC) and the situation in which various family schools expressed their opinions.

11. The term Axis Age comes from the German thinker Carl.Yasbel. In his book” The Origins and Goals of History”, he describes the breakthrough phenomenon of human culture around 500 BC, which appeared simultaneously in China, the West and India, as the Axis Age. This age is also regarded as a process of thinking construction.

12. Li（礼）and Ren（仁） stand for the concept of propriety and benevolence comes from the basic moral principles advocated by Confucianism and runs through the development of Chinese ethics. It is one of the most core factors in the Chinese value system.

13. The connotation of Confucian ‘Daoist Thought’ （道统思想）includes two aspects: one is the external code of conduct, the other is the embodiment of the highest value orientation, that is, using the standards of benevolence, justice and universal love to measure their own behaviour, with moral concepts.

14. The concept of (Ren) benevolence is the embodiment of ancient Chinese ethical concept, and it is the way to measure ancient Chinese moral standard and personality realm, putting forward by Confucianism, which becomes the core of Confucius’ thought.

15. The White Horse Temple（白马寺） considered the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism, is located in Luoyang, Henan Province, China.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Huilin Bai

Huilin Bai is currently studying in the Doctoral Program of Educational Leadership and Science and Technology Management at Tamkang University, Taiwan. During her doctoral program, she is mainly engaged in research on educational technology and higher education.

Hui-Ling Wendy Pan

Hui-Ling Wendy Pan is a distinguished professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. She is a full-time faculty member at Tamkang University's Department of Education and Future Design. Her research expertise focuses on the areas of educational evaluation, school effectiveness, innovation, educational leadership, educational policy, gender and research methods in education.