The Unity of Heaven and Humanity: On the Origin of Moral Cultivation
摘要
Ancient Chinese philosophy regards Heaven and Earth as cosmic exemplars, serving as the ultimate sources of moral guidance and societal order. Central to this paradigm is the notion of the Way of Heaven, a principle of cosmic regularity that undergirds virtue, shapes ethical norms, and harmonizes individual cultivation with the collective good (Brown, 2016). Unlike traditions that root morality in divine revelation, Chinese thought situates ethical authority within the patterned coherence of the natural world, emphasizing the alignment of human conduct with the inherent rhythms and structures of the cosmos.