Insight: Teacher Grace From the Perspective of the Consensus of Confucianism and Phenomenology

• In Event: Confucianism, Phenomenology, and Teacher Education

Abstract

Objectives
This paper aims to (1) compare and understand epistemology, methodology and axiology issues concerning teacher growth in view of Confucianism and phenomenology; (2) seek the mechanism of educational wisdom in curriculum and teaching; (3) construct the image of teachers from the perspective of Confucianism and phenomenology.

Theoretical Framework
The framework adopted is the global cross-cultural philosophy, namely, the Chinese and western philosophical thinking of "east and west，the same truth and human nature" as said by Feng Youlan. In this way, teachers study becomes possible in this framework. Therefore, the study of "cosmopolitanism" and pluralist values in axiology can generate new educational insights through the integration of perspectives and complex dialogue.

Methods
Philosophical exploration, comparison between China and the west, and integration of ancient and modern

Data
The main materials come from the phenomenological thoughts of Husserl, Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty, as well as the classical texts of the four books and five classics of Chinese tradition, the Confucianism in the Song and Ming dynasties and the masters of modern.

Results
Phenomenology has a lot in common with Confucianism. In terms of epistemology, the way of asking "to be exhausted at both ends" ( the Analects of Confucius·zihan ) breaks the traditional dual path of the study of Tao and Wen, which is exactly the intentionality problem studied by phenomenology. Therefore, helping to discover teachers' self-wisdom is the fundamental point of teacher education.
In methodology, phenomenology holds that philosophy should face the living, most original and subtle life experience, which happens to coincide with the thought of "daily use to see Tao" held by Confucianism. Teaching should thus be the restoration of the experience that is being initiated and carried out, thought and expressed.
In terms of moral theory, the peak experience of listening the music of Shao by Confucius exactly indicates the emotional standard way of Confucian growth, that is, there is internal phenomenological communication between people, external objects and gods--the most internal mechanism of human experience and meaning (Heidegger,M. ,2015)

Conclusion
Phenomenology and Confucianism together enlighten us on how to produce wisdom of life. In chaos and emptiness we find our inner being; We experience the meaning of existence in the fugue dance with the world; In the common compassion for death and life, We feel the fundamental equality and possibility between people. Finally, the barriers of truth, goodness and beauty are broken down.In being with ourselves, with others, and with the world, we learn to live with wisdom and clarity.

Significance
In the collision and mutual assistance of Chinese and western wisdom, the traditional wisdom of China is creatively transformed, a new theory of teacher education is constructed, the order of teacher education is reconstructed, the vitality of curriculum and teaching is revitalized, and finally a new growth point is provided for the development of educational philosophy.

Author

• Fuchao Jiang, Taishan College