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The Grass on the Other Side Is Always Greener

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The Grass on the Other Side Is Always Greener THE GRASS IS ALWAYS New Confucianism as an alternative to GREENER ON THE OTHER western environmental SIDE theories Dominique J.J. Ros Master Political Science Radboud University Nijmegen Supervisor: Prof. dr. M.L.J. Wissenburg 25 Januari 2017 Abstract While environmental research is rapidly expanding, the overall debate mostly relies on western theories to explain and assess environmental problems. The application of solely western theories makes research prone to indifferences for cultural variation. China is responsible for a quarter of the global greenhouse gas emissions, but Chinese environmental policies are generally explained through western environmental theories. This thesis explores the possibilities for a more cultural sensitive approach by exploring a New Confucian ecological perspective. It asks the question to what extent New Confucianism can be applied as an environmental theory, alternative to western environmental theories, and on what aspects it fits within the Chinese current context. This research applies a comparative political theoretical framework. It identifies multiple topics of discussion within the western debate, and derives dimensions and values from them. On the New Confucian account, this research combines a neo-Confucian moral framework and ideas of rationality and democracy to develop an environmental perspective. This results in four guidelines for human action towards nature. These guidelines fit well within Chinese culture, but encounter complications in the political aspect of Chinese society. New Confucianism provides an alternative environmental approach as long as it steers clear of the governments’ legitimization fundamentals. Keywords: New Confucianism, China, Environmentalism, Ecology, Comparative Political Theory. 1 Content Abstract .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Preface ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5 1. Introduction: A Complex Environment ............................................................................................................. 5 The importance of China’s environmental policy .......................................................................................... 6 Current status ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Double frame on the international level ....................................................................................................... 9 The link to Political Theory ................................................................................................................................ 10 Speaking about Chinese Culture ....................................................................................................................... 11 Confucianism and environmental debate ....................................................................................................... 12 Methodology........................................................................................................................................................... 14 2. Fifty Shades of Green............................................................................................................................................ 17 An overview of western theories about the environment .......................................................................... 17 Start of the environmental debate ................................................................................................................ 17 Debate discussed by concept .............................................................................................................................. 19 Anthropocentric approach ............................................................................................................................. 19 Individualist consequentialist approaches .................................................................................................. 21 Individualist deontological approaches ....................................................................................................... 22 Holistic environmental ethics ........................................................................................................................ 23 Constructing dimensions .................................................................................................................................... 26 Metaphysical ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 Ethical .................................................................................................................................................................. 27 3. Taking the Confusion out of Confucianism ................................................................................................... 29 Tracing Confucian ideas from classical to modern times ........................................................................... 29 Going far back in history ................................................................................................................................ 30 The neo-Confucian phase ............................................................................................................................... 33 New Confucianism ........................................................................................................................................... 37 The Manifesto of New Confucianism .............................................................................................................. 40 2 Latest developments ............................................................................................................................................. 42 4. From New to Nature ............................................................................................................................................. 44 Constructing a New Confucian ecological approach ................................................................................... 44 4.1 General ideas of Confucian moral thought .............................................................................................. 44 The organismic whole ..................................................................................................................................... 44 The anthropocosmic idea ................................................................................................................................ 47 Extending responsibilities to Earth .............................................................................................................. 47 4.2 New Confucianism Incorporated ................................................................................................................ 50 The ultimate goal .............................................................................................................................................. 51 4.3 Constructing guidelines ................................................................................................................................ 53 Four guidelines .................................................................................................................................................. 54 5. Limitations of New Confucianism in Theory and Practice ......................................................................... 57 5.1 Exploring the limits ........................................................................................................................................ 57 Guideline one: wasting food, wasting the balance ................................................................................... 58 Guideline two: formalizing self-cultivation ............................................................................................... 59 Guideline three: balancing interests ............................................................................................................ 61 Guideline four: continuous information-seeking ..................................................................................... 62 5.2 New Confucianism, ecological approach and Chinese context........................................................... 63 Making a cultural and politicized distinction ............................................................................................ 64 Cultural Confucianism .................................................................................................................................... 65 Politicized Confucianism ................................................................................................................................ 65 New Confucian Guidelines............................................................................................................................. 69 5.3 New Confucianism compared to western environmental theories .................................................... 70 Comparison dimensions and values............................................................................................................. 71 6. Conclusion
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