Body and Mind in Early China: An Integrated Humanities—Science Approach

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Religion Vol. 81; no. 1; pp. 6 - 55
• Main Author: Slingerland, Edward
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford American Academy of Religion, Oxford University Press 01.03.2013; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Belief & doubt; Chinese culture; Cognition; Dualism; Emotion; Holism; Human organs; Mind; Mind body dichotomy; Mind body relationship; Philosophy of mind; Soul
• ISSN: 0002-7189; 1477-4585
• DOI: 10.1093/jaarel/lfs094

This article argues against the strong "holist" position that the early Chinese lacked any concept of mind—body dualism, and more broadly against a "neo-Orientalist" trend that portrays Chinese thought as radically different from Western thought. In the first half, it makes the case against strong mind—body holism by drawing upon traditional archeological and textual evidence. In the second, it turns to resources from the sciences, arguing that large-scale quantitative—qualitative analyses of early Chinese texts suggest that they embrace a quite vigorous form of mind—body dualism, and further that a huge body of evidence coming out of the cognitive sciences suggests that this is not at all surprising. In this section, the role that deep humanistic knowledge can, and should, play in scientific approaches to culture is also explored. The article concludes by suggesting that a mutually informed, humanities—scientific approach to religious studies is the best way for our field to move forward.