Self-affirmation and self-negation - an analysis on the ontological disagreements between Christianity and Confucianism in Mou Zongsan’s criticism of Kierkegaard = 從牟 宗三對齊克果「否定自我」之批評分析基督教與儒家之存在論分歧

Tam, A. K. P. (2022) Self-affirmation and self-negation - an analysis on the ontological disagreements between Christianity and Confucianism in Mou Zongsan’s criticism of Kierkegaard = 從牟 宗三對齊克果「否定自我」之批評分析基督教與儒家之存在論分歧. Logos and Pneuma: Chinese Journal of Theology, 56, pp. 173-208.

Abstract

Mou Zongsan rarely discusses Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophy. Nevertheless, in On the Characteristics of Chinese Philosophy, Mou uses Kierkegaard as an example to illustrate the fundamental ontological differences between Christianity and Confucianism. Mou claims that Confucians affirm moral subjectivity, while Christians urge one to deny one’s sinful self and to be integrated into God’s subjectivity. Therefore, Mou believes that Confucianism is characterized by self-affirmation, while Christianity is characterized by self-negation. As a response to this, this article argues that, even if one agrees that Kierkegaard’s philosophy may represent this perspective of Christian ontology, “self-negation” can hardly outline the whole picture of Kierkegaard’s philosophy. By criticizing Mou’s oversimplified dichotomy of self-affirmation and self- negation, this article examines both Mou’s Confucian and Kierkegaard’s Christian perspectives on the ontological question of individual subjectivity, which can provide new insight to Confucian-Christian dialogue.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Mou Zongsan, Søren Kierkegaard, New Confucianism, Chinese Philosophy, Subjectivity.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tam, Dr Ka Pok
• Authors: Tam, A. K. P.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General); B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion; B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity; P Language and Literature > PL Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Modern Languages and Cultures
• Journal Name: Logos and Pneuma: Chinese Journal of Theology
• Publisher: Institute of Sino-Christian Studies
• ISSN: 1023-2583
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 Institute of Sino-Christian Studies
• First Published: First published in Logos and Pneuma: Chinese Journal of Theology 56:173-208
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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