Taoism Encounters the Deep Ecology: China meets Norway

• In Event: Roundtable Session (Tuesday III)
  In Refereed Round-Table Session: Building a sustainable future for our children: comparative studies in early childhood education from China and Norway

Proposal

This conceptual/theoretical research aims to understand and compare key philosophies behind ECEfS in China and Norway, including Taoism and the deep ecology. Harmony is the core value of Taoism, which includes the ecological harmony, social harmony, interpersonal harmony and physical and mental harmony from macro to micro perspective. While in Norway, SD is influenced by Arne Næss’s deep ecology philosophy, which includes the principle of wholism-seeing the organic wholeness of nature, with humans as fully part of it (Sageidet, 2014). Arne Næss believe that our diverse human family, living in so many different cultures and places, can work together to end violence, improve social justice, and promote world peace and be harmony with nature (Næss 2008). To some extent, the deep ecology philosophy is consistent with the harmony philosophy of China. Further implications about deep-rooted issues and differences are discussed.

Authors

• Pin YE, Beijing Normal University

• Minyi Li, Beijing Normal University