The big question for this segment is,

how did the ancient Chinese approach problem solving?

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Human existence is beset with disasters.

Some calamities are natural like earthquakes.

Others are man-made, such as wars.

Two millennia ago, the Chinese long for peace and

harmony when the principalities in which they lived engaged in wars.

Chinese cosmology was formed as a unique world view

that sought to identify the foundations for how many inhuman affairs.

Today, wars are still waging.

Earthquakes are more frequent, and new problems like global warming have emerged.

Scientists have found that human action has contributed to these environmental

risks and calamities.

I'm going to introduce you to Chinese cosmology which has an emphasis on harmony

and wellness which remains as relevant today for

approaching our problems as it was in ancient China.

Ancient Chinese philosophers from the Warring States period during the fourth

and third centuries BCE, looked around them and

asked, how did the cosmos emerged?

How does the universe operate?

What makes it and its various elements in it?

More importantly, how is mankind related to nature and

how to define his relationship to others in the universe?

As a human endeavor to comprehend the features and principles of the universe,

early Chinese cosmology, like other Asian cultures,

can be conceived a primordial expression of reflection on the world.

It can be consider as a Chinese way of understanding the cosmic order, and

of defining the relationships between its components.

In particular, those between the natural world and that humans drowning within it.

To ancient Chinese philosophers,

there's no particular supernatural power or creator.

Rather, the universe is a self-generating, self-operating system.

All things are interconnected and constantly evolving

in an orderly pattern called Dao, or the way, the principle.

The Chinese philosophies embrace many issues, but are focused on

the concept of harmony and oneness, imbued in Confucian and Daoist traditions.

Tian or heaven is a term interchangeable with the cosmos, universe, and nature.

As a key concept, it can be evaluated at three interrelated levels.

It is, firstly, the source of the birth of all things with assigned functionalities.

Secondly, the moral principles to sustain a harmonious and

order society in the human realm.

And thirdly, the authority ordaining individual achievement

in the moral harmony related to cosmic harmony.

The Dao is a cyclical pattern of indirection among heaven and

humans and all things.

Epitomized by the pull of forces, yin and yang.

And the five basic elements of constituents.

Metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

The Dao although is intangible.

Has enabled and ceasing operation of the cosmic order with spontaneity in harmony.

To the ancient Chinese philosophers, the conceptualization of the cosmic order

is to develop an understanding of its implications to the human realm.

The synergy of and wonders of ethical, political and religious dimensions.

In human society, it is crucial to maintain the balance and

harmony in all human relationships.

The ruler and this ideal personality, [FOREIGN], or

gentlemen are intermediaries between heaven and humans, they teach and

act as more exemplars to maintain this kind of harmony.

And sustainable operations of all dimensions of society.

If we take heaven as the source of all things

then nature assign functionality and related reasoning and principles.

Then the unity of humanity and heaven implies that human beings

are to comply with their nature and principles of growth and development.

In this context, humanity is endowed with certain distinctive features

with their assigned functionalities by heaven.

The implant nature of human beings, in particular,

the derivative abilities to sense, feel, think, correspond, interact,

and engage, makes social transformation or cultural construction possible.

Moral cultivation is a process of integrating human and cultural practice

as a process of refining the individual and harmonizing the society.

Each individual plays an active role in his relation to others.

He is in a constant unceasing process of self-cultivating and

self-fulfilling associated with regulating and harmonizing human relationships.

And relationships with nature.

Regulating and harmonizing human relationships

should be seen as a necessary process in the management of human order,

sort of observing inherent principles of reasoning and of human nature.

Humanity is an integral part of nature and is of ultimate importance

because of humanity's inborn and developing capability to know and

to empathize with the way or principle of heaven and to comply with it.

The universe is in constant movement and reversion.

Its components are differentiated and yet they are interconnected as whole and

in unity.

Although differentiation and boundaries are drawn,

they are a part of the cosmic continuum which we evolve with oneness.

Corresponding with the cosmic pattern and principle on the sociopolitical level.

A leader should initiate the process of bringing all into harmony.

The hypothesis of oneness provides a structured message about leadership and

related political schema revolving around the concept of harmony as one.

The one is the source and origin of all.

And has the realization of all things unified and harmonized.

In its 21st March 2016 issue,

the Time magazine reported that the US state of Oklahoma had only

one earthquake in 2007, but 900 in 2015.

Attributing this phenomenon to the oil extraction operation.

The energy boom may be over, but

the man-made geological mess it created has gotten worse, the article says.

Had we been more respectful to nature, we could have avoided carbon emission.

Deforestation, global warming and climate change becoming pressing problems today.

Chinese cosmology advises us that we are part of the cosmic order,

in the unity of heaven in its oneness.

In our interaction with nature, we cannot be too careful and

must be respectful of it.

At the sociopolitical level,

we should have harmonious relationships between individuals, countries, and

different cultures by starting with complying to the Confucian golden rule

of not imposing on others what we do not want for ourselves.

Where does this leave us?

Traditional Chinese philosophies, particularly the concepts of harmony and

oneness, focus on human domains by situating humanity with the universe.

Humans are important within the cosmic order, and

we are connected with each other.

The environment, the past, the present, and in the future.

We are many but we are one.

We need to recognize that we are only an intermediary.

Not the master of nature.

Whereas it's not being against scientific advancement, the concepts of harmony and

oneness suggests non-exploitation of nature.

And a sustainable development and equality for all.

For greed, exploitation, and unbalanced distribution of resources and benefits,

have been the cause of contemporary global problems and human conflicts.

Viewing Chinese cosmology within the big picture of the world.

We can see it's more than application, not that we have the scientific or

technical solutions, but the correct attitudes and

the mindset that can help us chart the right course of action.

The practicability of ancient Chinese wisdom should make us reflect on how

it can still be relevant to our own life in the 21st century and beyond.

Forging a close tie with the big history as an integral and harmonious part of it.

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Traditional Chinese Philosophy and Problem Solving

Evaluating Problems

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