中国智慧与可持续发展

Abstract

China is proud of her 5,000-year history and culture, based on strong ecological environment. Techno-scientific civilization with modern science and technology, on the other hand, cannot guarantee sustainable development, causing ecological crisis. There are several reasons that China has a rich history of 5000 years. Firstly, Chinese traditional civilization was built on eco-friendly technology of agriculture and sericulture. A source of energy in the traditional society was literally green energy comparing to a source of modern energy, high carbon. Modern techno-scientific civilization cannot guarantee sustainable development to the extent that it is attributed to non-green growth relied on a high level of techno-scientific civilization. Secondly, Chinese traditional civilization revered agriculture, while inhibited commerce. It was advantageous to conserving and retaining the ecological environment, in distinction from modern capitalism that precipitated environmental pollution and destruction. Thirdly, Chinese traditional civilization was governed by philosophers, neither by either industrialists nor merchants. They valued self-discipline above everything else and strove for an ethical life. This is distinguished from a pattern of mass production and consumption of the modern industrial society. Fourthly, Chinese traditional civilization was rooted in the unity of heaven and human. This is entirely different from modern techno-scientific civilization that divides something into a subject and object part and sees something to be conquered. Chinese traditional civilization, in a sense, failed of achievements in modern technology, but kept from such a thought of conquest and rule of nature. Such an aspect enabled Chinese civilization to further sustainable development with ecological environment in its natural state. Fifthly, Chinese traditional civilization was concerned with immanent transcendence. Anagogic and imaginative mankind reformed and transformed the reality, so-called transcendence. And this can be divided into two; inward and outward. The former focuses on inner transformation of a human being, while the latter of external environment. East Asian thoughts concentrated on inward transcendence. Modern techno-scientific civilization pursuing outward transcendence, on the other hand, despoiled ecological environment such as environmental pollution and natural damage. Considering wisdom of Chinese traditional civilization, this paper attempts to suggest answers for solving modern problems. With a help of scientific technology, a pattern of green growth based on agricultural civilization turns alternative energy as the strength of the sun, wind and tide into power for green growth. Such tradition more concerned with agriculture than industry helps keep environmental destruction and pollution. Another pattern of governance by clerisy helps alleviate and mediate profit maximization of businessmen and industrialists of the present time. Not for interests of special interest group, but for good of the community, right politics must be realized. And a way dichotomous thinking in the modern society must be destroyed. Lastly, sustainability of green growth should be pursued consistently.