On The Concept Of Shi 势 In WANG Chuan-shan’s Philosophy Of History

This thesis takes the concept of Shi 势 in WANG Chuan-shan’s philosophy of history as the main research object.The first chapter aims to clarify the connotation of Shi势.After analyzing the relationship between Qi and Shi气-势,Event and Shi事-势,Principle and Shi理-势,the first section of Chapter 1 defines the Shi势as a natural tendency which caused by accumulative process of human affairs;This key concept JiJian积渐,which is helpful to understand the exact meaning of Shi势in Chuan-shan’s philosophy of history,will be discussed in the second section.The second chapter concentrates on the application of the concept of Shi势.The first section explains a close relationship between Heave天and Shi势.The Heaven天in the temptation of heaven天牖and The tools of heaven假手is not refers to a transcendent reality such as historical necessity.The temptation of heaven天牖and The tools of heaven假手contains profound values.The second section points out that Chuan-shan does not think that the circle of order-disorder is an objective law of history.Chuan-shan has his own unique thought on this question.Chuan-Shan makes a distinction between order(Zhi治)in the disorder(Luan乱)and disorder(Luan乱)in the order(Zhi治).Both order(Zhi治)and disorder(Luan乱)depending on human affairs.The third chapter follows the previous one,for the history of politics is mainly determined by the affairs of human beings.Therefore,in this political and historical world,human beings have the abilities and duties to transform the disorder into order.This possibility exhibits the freedom of human beings.The first section considers that time(Shi时)and chance(Ji几)are two key points to judge the development of Shi势.Knowing Ji几and treating Shi时are the keys to whether people can obtain freedom in the political and historical world.The third section points out:Chuan-shan regards the realization of The principle of heaven(Tianli天理)as the direction of historical development.Tianli天理here refers mainly to The people’s will(Minxin民心).Chuan-shan’s reflection on the Shi 势 has inspired us to remain vigilant against the elements of disorder even in a world which seems stable.We must also be good at discovering when the society is in trouble and promote potential positive energy.