Xujing （Emptiness and Stillness） in Daoism, Aesthetic Appreciation of Nature, and Environmental Ethics  

作　　者：GAO Shan 

机构地区：[1]Department of Philosophy, School of Political Science and Public Management, SoochowUniversity, Suzhou 215006, China

出　　处：《Frontiers of Philosophy in China》2017年第2期224-236,共13页中国哲学前沿（英文版）

摘　　要：In this article, I will examine the concept of xujing 虚静 （emptiness and stillness） in Daoism and its relationship with the aesthetic appreciation of nature and environmental ethics. Firstly, I will examine the Chinese philosophical understanding of nature through the concept of qi. I point out that qi is characterized by four interrelated features, which are emptiness, creativity, vitality, and stillness. Xujing are also aesthetically appreciated as the objective features of qi. Secondly, ! will discuss why, as the objective features of qi, xujing are considered to be features that have aesthetic value. I argue that empathy is the reason why emptiness as the objective feature of qi is regarded as having aesthetic value. Thirdly, I will discuss how the aesthetic concept of emptiness helps contribute to the construction of place-based environmental ethics.In this article, I will examine the concept of xujing 虚静 （emptiness and stillness） in Daoism and its relationship with the aesthetic appreciation of nature and environmental ethics. Firstly, I will examine the Chinese philosophical understanding of nature through the concept of qi. I point out that qi is characterized by four interrelated features, which are emptiness, creativity, vitality, and stillness. Xujing are also aesthetically appreciated as the objective features of qi. Secondly, ! will discuss why, as the objective features of qi, xujing are considered to be features that have aesthetic value. I argue that empathy is the reason why emptiness as the objective feature of qi is regarded as having aesthetic value. Thirdly, I will discuss how the aesthetic concept of emptiness helps contribute to the construction of place-based environmental ethics.

关 键 词：QI EMPTINESS stillness EMPATHY PLACE body 

分 类 号：X2[环境科学与工程—环境科学] B83-0[哲学宗教—美学]