Universal Humanity through the Lens of Chinese Thought

Abstract

This essay examines the idea of universal humanity via the prism of Chinese philosophy, with a particular emphasis on the three main schools of Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. By comparing them with western viewpoints where appropriate, the study seeks to clarify how different philosophical frameworks understand the idea of universal human values and connection. The research uses a qualitative methodology and entails a thorough textual investigation of important Chinese works, including the Mahayana sutras, the Dao De Jing, and the Analects. The results show that although Daoism promotes natural harmony and the Dao as essential to human life, Buddhism emphasizes compassion and interdependent origination as crucial components, while Confucianism emphasizes humaneness (Ren) and social harmony (Li) as the cornerstones of Universal Humanity. The comparative study provides a thorough grasp of universal humanity by highlighting the distinctive and overlapping features of these ideologies in respect to western philosophy. This research suggests that incorporating different philosophical concepts might enhance modern perspectives on universal humanity, which adds to the larger conversation on global ethics and human interconnectivity. It is advised that further study be done to examine the real-world applications of these philosophical ideas in contemporary society