ZBORNIK - Matica srpska

cal Poiesis, that is, the rediscovery of the Confucianist ideal harmony,
which transforms and modifies the previous positions, expressed,
as he puts it:
“East is not All East, West is not all West,
And why not the twain shall meet.
Let the world be in order with diversity. 3
or be in harmony without uniformity." 4
Wang's “Multicultural Strategy", further on, has recently been
taken “flesh and bones" in the publication of Transcultural Views
which, as he points out, is intended to evoke a depth reexamination
of and reflection on the diversity of value systems in humanities
and traditions from different cultures in the context of globalization
and its challenges. It is also intended to expose the readers to distinct
observations and ponderings chiefly in such domains as intercultural
philosophy, aesthetics, poetics, and eco-ethics.
There is no doubt that behind Wang's intercultural communication
and complementary interaction between East and West as well
as his Transcultural Views, is Plato's deep concern with the human
psyche (fyx0) as it is explored in the structure of the whole dialogue
of Republic and characterized with a chain of thought-provocative
allegories. According to his analysis and interpretation, the dialogue
commences with the magic ring that is deployed to expose
the vulnerable psyche within which there lies a demonic will to
self-benefits at the cost of others' interests; then it introduces the
tripartite formation that is to illustrate the interactive psyche within
which the rational, the spirited and the appetite compete for its own
dominance; and it ends up with the wandering soul that is intended
to illuminate the interchangeable psyche in accord with the law of
karma relating to the Orphist convention. All this shows the fact
that the education of the complex psyche is not merely a critical
necessity, but also a difficult enterprise.
Wang is particularly interested in Plato's education of the psyche
and its moralistic scheme as well as its wandering. In his own
words, “the Republic involves a dialectical discussion of such interwoven
themes as politics, ethics, and paideia altogether. But all this
involves the remolding of the human soul owing to the fact that politics
is grounded on ethics, and ethics on paideia, and accordingly,
paideia is pointed to morality, and morality to the soul in the final
3 Cf. F. S. C. Northrop, The Meeting of East and West, New York: Macmillan
co., 1960, 1946, p. 454.
4 ISUD, “A multicultural Strategy", Skepsis, IV/1, 2004, p. 422.
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