The World of Thought in Ancient China

Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1985. 490 pages; 25 cm. Includes bibliographical references (pages 461-468) and index. ISBN: 0674961900; 9780674961906

Contents: Early cultural orientations: Issues and speculations -- Early Chou thought: Continuity and breakthrough -- Confucius: The vision of the Analects -- Mo-tzu's challenge -- The emergence of a common discourse: Some key terms -- The ways of Taoism -- The defense of the Confucian faith: Mencius and Hsun-tzu -- Legalism: The behavioral science -- Correlative cosmology: The "school of Yin and Yang" -- The five classics.

"The center of this prodigious work of scholarship is a fresh examination of the range of Chinese culture thought during the formative period of Chinese culture. Benjamin Schwartz looks at the surviving texts of this period with a particular focus on the range of diversity to be found in them. While emphasizing the problematic and complex nature of this thought he also considers views which stress the unity of Chinese culture. Attention is accorded to pre-Confucian texts, to the evolution of early Confucianism, to Mo-Tzu, to the "Taoists" the legalists, the Ying-Yang school, the "five classics" as well as to intellectual issues which cut across the conventional classification of schools. The main focus is on the high cultural texts, but Mr. Schwartz also explores the question of the relationship of these texts to the vast realm of popular culture." -- Publisher.

Philosophie chinoise -- Jusqu'à 221 av. J.-C. Intellectual life. Philosophy, Chinese. Chinese filosofie. Philosophy, Chinese -- To 221 B.C. Time: To 221 B.C. Geographic: China -- Intellectual life -- To 221 B.C. China -- Vida intelectual -- Hasta 221 d.C. Chine -- Vie intellectuelle -- Jusqu'à 221 av. J.-C. China. China -- Intellectual life -- To 221 B.C. Identifier: Chinese philosophy, to ca B.C.200 - Critical studies General Info: National bibliography no: GB8822330; GB88-22330 Other format available: Online version:; Schwartz, Benjamin I. (Benjamin Isadore), 1916-1999.; World of thought in ancient China.; Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1985