The concept of kosmos did not play the leading role in Aristotle’s physics that it did in Pythagorean, Atomistic, Platonic, or Stoic physics. Although Aristotle greatly influenced the history of cosmology, he does not himself recognize a science of cosmology, a science taking the kosmos itself as the object of study with its own phenomena to be explained and its own principles that explain them. The term kosmos played an important role in two aspects of his predecessor’s accounts that Aristotle (...) rejected: first, cosmogeny and kosmopoiia, generation or creation of the kosmos; second, diakosmêsis, arranging of a plurality of kosmoi. Aristotle was extremely critical of accounts involving kosmopoiia and diakosmêsis and he developed general dialectical strategies against them. In emphatically distinguishing his view from all his predecessors (including Plato), he uses the terms ho ouranos (the heaven), to holon (the whole), and to pan (the totality) in preference to ho kosmos (the kosmos or world). There is usually no harm in speaking loosely of ‘Aristotle’s cosmology’ when referring to his concept of the order of nature and the ouranos. Nevertheless, Aristotle’s theoretical philosophy offers something very different from those of his predecessors for whom kosmos was a keyword. (shrink)

This essay focuses on the spatial organization of the genre of ‘Man.’ In particular, I investigate the spatial attitudes through which the genre of Man emerges as a racialized, geographically determined, and gendered category. There are two main arcs of analysis provided: the first arc follows the relation between the space of exploration and the space of totalization. The second arc focuses on the role of boundary markers such as the ‘Other’ and the ‘Outside,’ in the spatial organization of Man. (...) I argue, overall, that the totalitarian spatial attitude of the Modern State is formed on the basis of the transformation of the cosmogeny of Man from a spatially limited earth to one open to exploration. The racialized ladder of the State rests on such production of a spatial attitude that is at once open and totalitarian. (shrink)

Modern and contemporary scholars generally evaluate Zhoud-unyi's theory as cosmology. However, there is a difference in the specific content. As a representative example, Zhubokun defines Zhoudunyi's study as 'cosmogeny' based on Taijitushuo. Mozong-nsan defines Zhoudunyi's study as 'becoming' based on Tongshuo. ‘Cosmology’ originates from ‘Kosmos’ originally proposed by Pythagoras. Pythagoras interprets ‘Kosmos’ as ‘Universe’ and also presents the ‘form’ of ‘number’ as the cause of such a universe. And this ‘form’ defines ‘matter’ and the universe is created. In this (...) way, in the cosmology established by ‘matter’, ‘form’ and ‘dualistic world view’, ‘cosmogeny’ and ‘becoming’ are not particularly distinguished, and fact and value are separated. However, in the cosmology of Yi-ology, facts and values are continuous. The cosmology of Yi-ology is based on agricultural culture which is why it is 'becoming', and at the same time, its internal causes and principles have an ethical character. This is expressed as the law of ‘yiyinyiyang(一陰一陽)’. In this way, the philosophical meaning of cosmology, which can be confirmed in Yizhuan, is a continuation of facts and values, which leads to the thought of ‘the unity of heaven and human(天人合一)’. Taijitushuo has the character of 'becoming' but also the charac-ter of 'cosmogeny'. However, the theory of spontaneous generation by the movement of ‘Yuanqi(元氣)’ itself in Taijitushuo as supported by Zhu Xi has limitations in terms morality and of ethics. It is that in the process of cosmogony, the moral nature or essence by confucianism cannot be dealt with. If so, the theory of cosmogeny in Taijitushuo will be reduced to non-essentialism or a search for facts. Zhu Xi is solving these problems through 'Li-bunti(理本體)'. In other words, by setting up a transcendental and conceptual space, the principle of ‘yiyinyiyang(一陰一陽)’ can always function as a natural law and a normative law throughout the entire process of ‘Qihua(氣化)’. If so, Taijitushuo's theory of cosmogeny means value and practical discussion, and also means ‘the unity of heaven and human(天人合一)’. Based on this, Zhu Xi's 'Li-buntilun(理本體論)' does not oppose cosmology, but rather supplements it. (shrink)

The philosophical and religious ideas of Simone Weil bear on theory of history and historiography in ways not previously explored. They amount to a view of history as a consequence of the original creation, but they also exclude theodicy. By examining these ideas we see some of the ways in which to develop a theory history centered on a conception of moral understanding that is impartialist and universal. For Weil such understanding is both inside of and outside of history. This (...) leads to an approach to human history that centers on the moral dilemmas and choices of historical actors and that matches the force of compassion with that of power. Under an approach inspired by Weil’s ideas, the historian’s work of understanding can be an experience of moral growth. (shrink)