CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

Chinese philosophy is thought of Chinese culture, from earliest times to the

present. Chinese philosophy is humanism. The belief and purpose of philosophy is
primarily to serve as an ethical and practical guide. The political focus is most
scholars of the Hundred Schools were trying to convince the ruler to behave in the
way they defended. The existential character of Chinese philosophy has created
the erroneous impression, however, that it is purely ethical and social and devoid
of metaphysics. Though seemingly random and unsystematic, the philosophy of
every school was the result of years of serious thinking and formed a coherent and
logical whole. It was in each instance built on definite concepts about man and
heaven, whether the latter was interpreted as the Supreme Being or simply as
Nature.