A Study Of Mencius' Ecological Aesthetic Thought

According to the study of aesthetic thoughts on ecology of Mencius, the theoretical and practical meaning of Mencius’ thoughts is disclosed. And the aim of the thesis is to transform Mencius’ traditional aesthetic thoughts on ecology in modern ways to provide effective methods to deal with such relations as between human and nature, human and society, human and other people, and human and himself with ethical resources.At the same time, this thesis tries to offer some idea of how to do researches and theoretical supports for the improvement of the subject of contemporary ecological aesthetics and the implementation of ecological aesthetic education in China."Ecology" is originally directed to the study of living organisms and their environment. With the development of the society, the interpretation of ecology became enriched. It embraces not only the harmony between human and nature, but also the harmony between human and society, human and other people, and human and himself. Therefore, in the thesis, the "ecology" mainly includes three aspects: natural ecology,human ecology and self ecology. And as a kind of study on the concept of aesthetic, the three levels should be appreciated under the field of aesthetic, which means to examine the relationship between human and nature,society and self from the perspective of holistic view. As a result, the problems about ecological aesthetic are taken down to concrete scenes of life in order to further reconstruct a harmonious relationship between human and nature, society, self.Confucianism attaches importance not only to people’s life existence, but also to the metaphysical value with basis of survival. It covers ecological humanism of multiple relations between human and nature, human and society, human and human, human and himself. Especially in the theory of Mencius’ original goodness of human nature as "qin qin and love people, love things" and "cultivating Qi", the natural ecology, human ecology and self ecological are closely linked to each other, breaking the limits of time and space and combining the "nature-society-human-self" into a whole system. As a aesthetic transformation, "Le" is combined with benevolence and honesty. Virtually speaking, Mencius has transformed his aesthetic to ecology.He emphasizes that in the harmony between human and nature, human and society, human and human, human and self, the greatest joy of life and the ideal realm of the unity of all things can be experienced and achieved,which is a kind of realm where the true, the good and the beauty can be united.In conclusion, the aesthetic on ecology of Mencius is based on "benevolence" philosophically. And in his theory, "Le" is located in a position of aesthetic transformation and “harmony” is his aesthetic aim. Through the understanding of destiny and the anticipation for an ideal habitat, Mencius presents aesthetic thoughts of Mencius show the harmony between human and human, human and society, human and nature, human and self.It also has a positive significance to the contemporary aesthetic education, the construction of ecological aesthetics and of ecological civilization. However, it should also be noted that his thoughts are generated in aspecific stage of history, which is very different from today’s society. Thus, the limitation of his ecological ethics must not be ignored.