| Abstrakt: |
This paper provides a discussion of the role of Confucianism in the development of Chinese civilization, both past and present, specifically with regard to the contribution of Johann Arnason to the topic. The bulk of the paper deals with two issues related to his analysis of Chinese civilization: The former is the Axial Age hypothesis, according to which China was one of the three important civilizations to have 'awakened' in the last few centuries BCE; the second is Max Weber’s project of comparative religion and culture, in which China played a significant role. I attempt to clarify the status of Confucianism vis-a-vis each on these issues, often with the support of Arnason's writings, but towards the end I offer some thoughts on the rather curious status and enigmatic role of Confucianism in today’s China. |
