Life Philosophy: A Study on Western Ontology and Taoism of Form and Spirit Dualism
Ning Dong, Jing-Xin Pu
International Journal of Sino-Western Studies May 28, 2024 DOI: 10.37819/ijsws.26.1815 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Western ontology and Eastern Taoist dualism of form and spirit both describe the spirit as able to exist independently in time and space through exercises such as meditation, and that the outward material world and inward purified spiritual world are unified in the human body. Contends that idealism and materialism have each tended toward extremes, and predicts that interdisciplinary, cross-regional studies of religion, especially mental and physical health, will become a significant future trend. |
Abstract
The paper, starting from the perspective of philosophical exploration of life, combines historical literature with ontology and dualism as the focal points, integrating features from various fields such as psychology, traditional Chinese medicine, and phenomenology. It conducts a comparative study on the similarities and differences between Western ontology and Taoist dualism of form and spirit. The article elucidates how the 'outward-extending material world and inward-purifying spiritual world' are unified in the principle of the amalgamation of 'human body.' It also provides specific methods and theoretical explanations for the discovery of the spiritual world in the East and West. The external world is defined as the material realm discovered by science, while the internal world is the spiritual realm revealed after the purification of the mind. Both idealism and materialism have tended toward extremes in two directions. Both Western ontology and Eastern Taoist dualism of form and spirit have discovered the phenomenon that 'the spirit can exist independently in this time and space through specific exercises such as meditation.' Taoism, with its unique medical foundation in the study of 'form,' recognizes the interaction of form and spirit, leading to the development of their respective religious, philosophical, and theological traditions. Interdisciplinary and cross-regional studies in religion, particularly in the field of mental and physical health, are expected to become significant trends in the future."