An Investigation of Xiong Shili’s 熊十力 (1885-1968) Philosophy in the New Treatise on the Uniqueness of Consciousness
The point of departure for my research is the historical and cultural background against which the emergence of Xiong Shili’s philosophical outlook as articulated in the New Treatise on the Uniqueness of Consciousness (Xin weishi lun 新唯識論) has to be understood. I will elaborate on the theoretical implications of Xiong’s epistemological system of philosophy and delve into the reasons why his basic stance changed from a Buddhist to a Confucian position. In doing so, I will study his approach to the latter two schools of thought, as well as his indebtedness to and criticism of Daoism. My research will also touch upon Xiong’s engagement with Western philosophy. The focus of my project lies on an analysis and evaluation of the main theoretical concepts and conceptual limitations of Xiong Shili's New Confucian philosophy.