Differences between Chinese and Western cultures

Differences between Chinese and Western cultures (a) From the way of thinking, Westerners focus on dialectical rationality to analyze the empirical evidence, analyze the whole and then synthesize it; Chinese focus on intuition, the whole, experience. In the view of Western philosophers, only the dialectical things are the most real, the most perfect, the most beautiful. From the ancient Greek era, natural scientists and philosophers are abstract thinking and logical thinking as the most basic means of understanding and grasping the truth of things, and the "analysis" or "logic" as the tool of all science. With the development of modern science, this empirical analysis of the further development of the ideological approach, logical thinking and empirical analysis has become the Western way of thinking and method. This way of thinking promoted the development of western science. The traditional Chinese way of thinking is not through inductive reasoning, deductive deduction, but based on facts, with existing experience and knowledge, to identify, understand and make overall judgment on the nature of objective things and their regularity. Associated with the intuitive way of thinking, the Chinese way of knowing the world is "physical knowledge" rather than "cognition". Lao Tzu pioneered the concept of "Body Tao". To "realize the Way" means to grasp the fundamental way of the universe by means of spiritual experience. Confucianism experiences the object of cognition as a whole of ethical emotions externalized by human self-consciousness, and seeks from it the evidence of the ethical and value norms of the subject. China's history lacks empirical scientific exploration, feudal conservative ideological constraints. (ii) From the perspective of value orientation, Westerners focus on self-centeredness, individuality and competition; Chinese focus on group, society and harmony. Western values believe that the individual is the base of human society. Each person's way of life and the quality of existence depends on his or her own ability, there is a person who has the social whole, the individual is higher than the social whole. Therefore, not accustomed to caring for others, help others, but not ask about others, and even take the initiative to help others or accept the help of others as embarrassing, that accepting the help of others is to prove their own incompetence, and take the initiative to help others will be regarded as interfering in other people's private affairs. They advocate that everyone should show his or her own personality, and the more one shows his or her own personality, the more one can reflect the value of life. Therefore, there is a strong sense of competition among people, and they rely on competition to obtain their own interests and realize their own values. In ancient China, the competition of those who are side by side is called "competition", and the competition of those who are on the opposite side is called "争". Later, people put these two words together, that is, the race to take the meaning. However, in ancient China, "competition" and "争" were generally regarded as bad things, and "tolerance" and "letting" were advocated. However, in ancient China, "competition" and "争" were generally regarded as bad things, and "忍" and "让" were advocated, which lacked the respect and aspiration for fair competition. Confucianism emphasizes the hierarchical procedure of "seniority and inferiority", while Taoism emphasizes "inaction, non-competition, if the water, competition for female", complementary Confucianism and Taoism, coupled with the ignorance and cruelty of the imperial power, the Chinese ideology is relatively lack of "competition". The concept of "competition" is relatively lacking in Chinese ideology. Chinese values, emphasizing the group consciousness, social consciousness, individual interests should be subordinate to the overall interests of society, only the development of society as a whole, the individual can get the maximum benefit. In the collective, the achievement of one person is regarded as the achievement of the collective, and the collective feels honored. Chinese culture promotes a noble and selfless sentiment. It is a virtue to take the initiative to care for others and to give care to others. But the individual's sense of competition and striving is not strong, and there is a kind of dependence. (C) from the ethical and moral point of view, westerners focus on personal indulgence, innovation and development, Zhang honor; Chinese people focus on modesty and prudence, impartiality. Westerners advocate personal struggle, especially for personal achievement and pride, never hide their self-confidence, sense of honor and achievement after the ecstasy; Western culture encourages individuals to develop and innovate, to do something that has not been done before, outstanding and extraordinary cause; Westerners are relatively indifferent to the concept of family. Once a child is married, he or she must be financially independent, and parents are no longer obligated to support their children. This practice provides young people with maximum freedom and develops their ability to live independently, but the kinship relationship is more distant. Chinese culture does not advocate flaunting one's honor when one achieves something, but rather promotes modesty and prudence, and is opposed to "selling one's own melon and boasting about one's own accomplishments". This kind of modesty, in the Western view, not only denies oneself, but also denies the appreciation of the praiser, which is not feasible in the capitalist market competition. In interpersonal relationships, traditional Chinese culture requires people to be impartial, take the middle way, worried about the dangers of innovation, behavior, speech and action, always have to look forward and backward, weighing the left and right, preferring to be at peace, maintaining the status quo, and maintaining harmony. When it comes to family, they like to have a reunion, and the elderly help to take care of their children and grandchildren in preparation for their old age. Family members rely on each other, help each other, although close family relations, but this way of life, is not conducive to the development of young people's independence. (D) from the behavioral norms, Westerners "heavy profit", "heavy law" Chinese "heavy righteousness", "heavy feelings ". In the western society, due to the emphasis on personal rights as the benchmark, to the pursuit of self-interest as the goal, and therefore do not attach importance to the sentiment between people. Only by relying on the law can conflicts between people be resolved. The law can protect individual rights as well as sanction the violation of human rights, therefore, the development of the rule of law in western countries is closely related to the value of human rights. Chinese people, due to the influence of the traditional idea of righteousness and profit, emphasize righteousness rather than profit, and emotion rather than law. Confucius said in the Analects of Confucius, "A gentleman is a metaphor for righteousness, while a villain is a metaphor for profit." Take righteousness as the highest norm. Confucianism emphasizes that one should not drive away righteousness for profit. Since since ancient times, it has mainly relied on morality to restrain people's behavioral norms and maintain society, rather than relying on legal constraints, people's legal awareness is relatively weak. (e) From the point of view of social relations, Westerners have a stronger sense of equality, while Chinese people have a stronger concept of hierarchy. The Western sense of equality emphasizes equality above personal competition. Rich or poor, everyone respects himself or herself and does not allow others to violate his or her rights, while at the same time fully respecting others. Few people are proud of their family background or ashamed of their poor origins, and they believe that as long as they work hard, they will be able to succeed.