An Analysis of Jesuit Missionary Aleni's Interpretation of Aristotelian Theory of Perception

Based on Xingxue Cushu in Late Ming China

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3345002
AutoresQ Zhao (0009-0000-8310-5729, Northeastern University, autor correspondente)
Ano2024
Volume15
Fascículo6
Páginas710
Data de publicação2024-06-07
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoReligions (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
EditoraMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel15060710
OpenAlexW4399429620
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas2
Referências citadas14

In Xingxue cushu, Aleni devotes himself to elucidating Aristotle's theory of perception as presented in De Anima and Parva Naturalia. The challenge in this endeavor lies in understanding the essence of Aristotle's perception, with physicalism and spiritualism holding opposite positions. To reconcile this contradiction, some scholars approach it from the perspective of dualism and the impurity principle. Nevertheless, these interpretations fail to resolve the inherent dilemma of perception. This article employs the pattern of combination and separation to propose that Aleni's interpretation of this dilemma is effective and clarifies the controversy. Perception encompasses both psychological and physical dimensions, and the two are based on each other in the process of actualization. Nonetheless, psychological and physical activities are separated in the definition. Influenced by Confucianism, Aleni associates human perception with morality, further emphasizing the necessity of definitional separation

Contradiction · Dilemma · Dualism · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Monism · Morality · Perception · Physicalism · Sociology · Chinese history and philosophy · Historical Philosophy and Science · Philosophy · Psychology