Abstract

MINA, Federico Daniel. The mind-body problem in Ancient China: Recent discussions. Estud. Asia Áfr. [online]. 2019, vol.54, n.1, pp.151-176. ISSN 2448-654X.  https://doi.org/10.24201/eaa.v54i1.2388.

Even though the mind-body problem has been a primary concern in Indo-European thought, philosophers in Ancient China showed little interest in the subject. However, in recent times, the implicit defense of their position has been fiercely debated. Historians have formed a consensus that they never supported a strong ontological dualism and that furthermore such an idea would have been a strange in pre-Buddhist China. The ontological and intellectual assumptions of the time support this view. Some scholars have recently argued evidence exists of mind-body dualism at that time but my critical analysis of these proposals concludes that their arguments are not strong enough to refute the traditional consensus.

Keywords : Chinese philosophy; Ancient China; mind-body problem; soul; heart.