Mind and Psychology in Early China
Mind and Psychology in Early China
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This Element describes early Chinese views of the heart-mind (xin 心) and its relation to the psychology of a whole person, including the body, affective and cognitive faculties, and the spirit (shén 神). It argues for a divergence in Warring States thought between 'mind-centered' and 'spirit-centered' approaches to self-cultivation. It surveys the Analects, Mengzi, Guanzi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Huainanzi, the Huangdi neijing, and excavated medical manuscripts from Mawangdui, as well as a brief comparative perspective to ancient Greek views of these topics. It argues for a contrast between post-Cartesian dualism and Chinese and Greek psycho-physicalism.
Product details
- Published: January 2026
- Format: Adobe eBook Reader
- ISBN: 9781009298315
- Length: 0 pages
- Availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Mind-centered texts
- 3. Spirit-centered perspectives
- 4. Medical texts
- 5. Perspectives on embodiment
- 6. Comparative observations
- 7. Conclusions
- References.
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- Latest accessibility assessment date: 2025-12-30
