Abstract

This chapter aims to offer a brief survey of the methodology of the current volume. The foremost issue that requires particular clarification is the terminology of gongsheng. The reader will notice that not all contributions of this volume are using the term “gongsheng” literally. In the first half of the chapter, I explain how we employ a systematic treatment of this terminological issue during the editing of this volume. Since the research topics of this volume are significantly diverse, an illustration of its layout and its overall research background is offered. As this volume aims to explore the philosophical significance of the concept of gongsheng, I will also elaborate on the philosophical implications of our methodology. This will be the task of the second half of the chapter: I will discuss some philosophical complexities concerning the topic (dis-)continuity of this volume and then briefly examine its metaphysical implications.