Feng Youlan and Greek Philosophy

Abstract

The article is to examine Feng Youlan's views about the differences and similarities between Chinese and Greek philosophy, to show the role of Greek philosophy in his effort to establish the study of Chinese philosophical thought as a modern discipline. It starts with a discussion of how Feng argues for what he thinks to be the two major features of Chinese philosophy: (a) China is weak in metaphysics/epistemology, and (b) Chinese philosophy concentrates on the philosophy of life. It proceeds to examine to what extent they are really in contrast to Greek philosophy, and it ends up with a reconsideration of the relation of these two features.