| In the perspective of paradigm converting, Yan Fu Evolution philosophy converts its philosophy paradigm from Dichotomy to “Tong Bian”. The Tong Bian paradigm is used not only in the process of “Tian Yan” concept construction, but also makes a distinct expression in Yan Fu’s Heaven-Human relationship and Community-Individual relationship. The Dichotomy narrative, which is based on the concept of Western Modernity, cannot make a comprehensive view of Yan Fu.Since the May 4th Movement in 1919, The Western Modernity narrative has stretching so far as a mainstream research method in the field of Chinese History of Thought, but it also has some inner limitations. We should return to the East-West understanding cultural way and share a unity in diversity view of the world, which is denoted by Yan Fu’s philosophy. Review the past study of Yan Fu, both the Western-Only method and the Eastern-Only method have an inner deficiency of Dichotomy, while the East-West understanding research method can grasp the pith of Tian Yan theory.The Spencer Evolution philosophy and the Huxley Evolution philosophy constituted the ideological origin of Tian Yan philosophy. As a Social Evolutionist, Spencer used the concept “Evolution” on both natural and social area with a meaning of “Universal advancement system”. Huxley denied the “improvement” meaning of Evolution and made an explaining in a way of the Original Sin in the <Evolution and Ethics>. Although there are contradictions between Spencer and Huxley, both of them have shared a Dichotomy paradigm in the conflict between Evolution progress and human ethic progress. The either-or and static thinking pattern blocks the way to solve the inner confliction between their theory.The most critical work in the construction of Tian Yan philosophy is the converting from Dichotomy paradigm by Spencer and Huxley to Tong Bian paradigm which takes root in < The Book of Changes >. Yan Fu describe “Tian Yan” as “pith of nature and inevitable force”. “Pith of nature” is a negative sprechen, while “inevitable force” is a positive sprechen. Coexist of them reflects the East-West understanding theory of Yan Fu, while the “Taoism is oneness” theoretical presupposition is the precondition. This is the “Tong” of Tong Bian paradigm. “Xi pi cheng bian” is the core meaning and the inner logic of concept “Tian Yan”. This is the “Bian” of Tong Bian paradigm. “Tong” and “Bian” is the two sides of the same coin in Tong Bian paradigm, “Tong” emphasis on the static relationship between objects, while “Bian” emphasis on the dynamic interconversion.Tong Bian paradigm also exists in the Heaven-Human relationship and the Community-Individual relationship of Tian Yan philosophy. The argument of “From Private to Kind, from Kind to humanity” links up the emotionless Evolution progress and the emotional human ethic progress. This is the precondition of “Harmony of Heaven and Human”. Evolution and ethic are both opposite and complementary to each other. This is the reflection of Tong Bian paradigm in Heaven-Human relationship. “Self-interest” is the mutual basis of Community and Individual. Both of them have its inner value, and there are relationships between them. This is the “Tong” paradigm in Community- Individual relation. The balance between Community and Individual is dynamic, which means to achieve adaptability in tactics, therefore, Tian Yan philosophy has a historical and practical direction. This is the “Bian” paradigm in Community- Individual relation. Tong Bian paradigm makes a presupposition to Yan Fu’s Heaven-Human relationship and Community-Individual relationship. |
