Modern Social Science Research

As an important concept in traditional Confucian thought, the theory of Gewu Zhizhi (investigating things to extend knowledge) reflects, to some extent, the holistic thinking and specific strategies employed by ancient Chinese thinkers in observing the world and understanding the self. It served as a cognitive foundation and dialectical method for exploring universal laws and uncovering intrinsic human values. This paper first examines the commonalities in the interpretations of Gewu Zhizhi by Confucius and Mencius, the Cheng-Zhu School, and the Lu-Wang School. Then, following a chronological framework, it systematically analyzes and compares the differences in their respective approaches—Confucius and Mencius’s "Doctrine of Benevolence (Renxue)," the Cheng-Zhu School’s "Neo-Confucianism (Lixue)," and the Lu-Wang School’s "Philosophy of Mind (Xinxue)." By exploring the conceptual characteristics of Gewu Zhizhi at different stages, this study aims to provide new perspectives for further research in related fields.

Gewu Zhizhi; Holism; Theory of cultivation; Philosophical analysis