The Outsider Perspective: Chinese Classical Philosophy in the Narrative Framework ofthe European Enlightenment

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to enhance the understanding of how Classical Chinese Philosophy has been interpreted and transferred by Enlightenment thinkers into the narrative framework of European philosophy as a far-reaching source of ideas and inspiration with a driving force for promoting modern European social change. We examine outsider perspectives within the context of Enlightenment thinking that contributed to advances in the cross-cultural understanding of how Chinese stories could be disseminated in the framework of East-West dialogue.

Keywords

• classical chinese philosophy
• the narrative framework of the european enlightenment
• humanism
• rationalism
• liberalism
• secularism
• eurocentrism
• cross-culture