HASSACC 2015 Human And Social Sciences at the Common Conference Ideal of cognition in Dao philosophy and education October 5. –

HASSACC 2015, October 5. – –Daoism is a ancient complete philosophy in China [8], [9],[16] available also in contemporary life [5]. This thinking has a different ideal of cognition. -What we claim here is that we can study the cultural background using the concept of ideal of cognition integrate in education at hidden level of Chinese mind. -We can realize a kind of reflective equilibrium [18] following the diversity of way of thinking to make the future integrative education, curriculum or research in science. Introduction

HASSACC 2015, October 5. – Introduction Epistemology and Fundamental Concepts in Daoism Chinese Language and Chinese cognitive concepts Ideal of cognition used in a Theory of Education Dao background as ideal in Chinese school Conclusions Presentation structure

1. Epistemology and Fundamental Concepts in Daoism –Questions in Western philosophy: What do we know? How do we know it? How can we justify our claims to knowledge? (Aristotel, 1961; Penrose, 1994) Westerner ideal of cognition : – separate as much as possible subject and object (classical science); repeatability of event without changing too much, experiment and outside observation and finally the goal is to manipulate nature in our advantage and more comfort. –Scientists are objective in evaluation. –Important are stable characteristics of the object. –Questions in Chinese philosophy : Why is there change rather than stability? What is the relationship between change and human action? (Henricks, 1989; LaFargue, 1992) Dao ideal is: –non-separation, let things to be as they are. Reality is a process. The patterns of this change are symbolized by Yin and Yang. The ideal person, the sage (sheng ren), wu wei (means something like “act naturally”, “effortless action” ). –Important are details always changing.

II.Epistemology and Fundamental Concepts in Daoism Dao De Jing ideas and ideal of cognition The ideal of knowledge means how to use all our abilities, believes in order to understand Nature as it is. Never force, never impose anything and without separation between subject and object. Actually the subject is part of object, part of nature. -correlatives are the expressions of the movement of Dao yin/yang, male/female; excess/defect; leading/following; active/passive; -Internal alchemy or reflexive mind; -Us conscious and unconscious mind, rational and irrational mind, deduction and intuition as well, heart-mind (xin); -Respect the nature (like water). Never do anything by force, but only following the flows of processes; The ideal of knowledge can show father the ideal of sage, philosopher, scientist and for any cognitive subject. - Sages do not engage in disputes and arguing. Sages act with no expectation of reward

Chinese Language and Chinese cognitive concepts Words express more action than stable things. The Truth (Zhen) is not a correspondence with an event, but the dynamic concept about how things are changing in time and space. The concept of “Nature” is Ziran (something developing without any cause!) Any noun can become a verb. (By example, Dao become sometimes daoing (the action to seek the truth, being on the road!).

Ideal of cognition used in a Theory of Education The main core of a possible implicit theory of education in Dao Philososphy is in the following sentences: Learning about relation and have dynamic point of view is the correct educational attitude. Sages always think that everything is hard, so they work diligently in order to have achievements. Mind as rational mind cannot design alone the real world. We need an integrative view regarding the whole. Mankind must work with modesty in the vast creation of the Universe. To be quite is a virtue of sage. And most important teaching of Daoism is do not force anything. Act accordingly the flow of natural processes.

Dao background as ideal in Chinese school To be focus on connection more than on things. Modesty of students and teachers Chinese students, children, teachers are very diligent and practice again and again their tasks. Making a balance between work and rest means respect Yin /Yang processing and so on. Conclusions To be focus in connection, not only in separation is very important as attitude in the process of knowledge in many subjects, so we can assume in our theory of teaching and learning as well. We also can assume that not all student can verbalize in the classroom, not all of them work in team or assume the same principals of life style.

HASSACC 2015, October 5. – [Maria Butucea, PhD, work at Technical University of Civil Engineering of Bucharest [The author spend several years in Minnan University Fujian, China, in Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences. She Translated Lao Zi, and wrote several articles about Chinese philosophy and education. In Romania is teaching philosophy of science as Associate Professor at TUCEB and wrote two books about scientific explanation. The author express her gratitude to Chinese University for help and hospitality and to Romanian University for kind support to make possible this study. ] This presentation is not official document of the conference. It is used only for conference purposes as additional material explaining paper.