Environment as a “Community of Life”: The Ontological Foundations of Environmental Protection in China

In China’s current public discourse, protecting the environment has taken the form of a strategic plan to “build a Beautiful China” and develop an “ecological civilization.” Central to these initiatives is the claim that “human and nature form a community of life,” an ontological foundation for current environmental practices. This perspective arises from Marxist views on the relationship between and the harmonious development of man and nature, as well as facets of ancient Chinese philosophy. This chapter attempts to illustrate the philosophical implications and ethical significances of a “community of life” from Confucianism and how it guides practices in environmental protection. To do so, first, it attempts to explain the “continuity” between human existence and nature in Confucian thought. Second, this chapter outlines the “creativity” of the natural environment and its implications for human interventions into nature. 摘要 在当前中国的公共话语中, 环境保护以”建设美丽中国”和发展”生态文明”的战略计划而展开。这些举措的核心预设是”人与自然共同构成生命共同体”, 这是当前环境实践的本体论基础。这种观点不仅源于马克思主义对人与自然关系和谐发展的看法, 更出自于中国古代哲学的相关论述。本章试图从儒家哲学的视角阐明”生命共同体”的哲学含义和伦理意义, 并探索这一理念是如何指导当前的环境保护实践的。基于此, 本章首先试图解释儒家思想中人与自然之间的”连续性”。其次, 概述自然环境的”创造性”, 并从这一观点出发分析和理解人类对自然干预的道德界限。