Philosophies that Separate Two Worlds

Chinese philosophy is rooted in a holistic worldview, perceiving the universe as an interconnected whole rather than a collection of isolated parts. It embraces contradiction, not as conflict, but as a natural expression of harmony—seeing opposing forces as interdependent and complementary. Within this framework, humanity transcends individualism in favor of collective well-being, emphasizing cooperation and communal success. At its heart, Chinese thought values unity, balance, and peaceful coexistence—prioritizing collaboration over conflict and mutual benefit over the elimination of adversaries (see Understanding China: Yellow River and the Character of the Chinese Nation).

Grounded in collectivism, Chinese philosophy places the well-being of society above individual gain, advocating for social harmony through public morality. Human rights are understood not merely as personal entitlements but as responsibilities toward the collective good, aiming to ensure safe, equitable, and harmonious living conditions for all. While Chinese law protects individual freedoms, including the right to pursue wealth within legal bounds, it also curtails the unchecked influence of special interests to safeguard the broader interests of the people and society as a whole (see Understanding China: Geography, Confucianism, and Chinese-Style Modernization).

Economically, China promotes the vision of “common prosperity” through a hybrid model that integrates state-owned enterprises, private ventures, and market mechanisms. This system encourages individual initiative while ensuring that personal success aligns with public welfare. The state plays a crucial role in regulating capital to prevent it from undermining social equity and long-term stability.

Politically, China stresses the central role of the state in uniting the nation, managing diversity, protecting vulnerable groups, and investing in infrastructure and the common good. It adheres to the principles of democratic centralism and national cohesion, rejecting excessive partisanship and decentralization. Chinese democracy—often described as “people’s democracy”—is consultative and consensus-driven, contrasting sharply with the adversarial nature of many Western electoral systems. As a “whole-process democracy,” it involves citizens in policymaking, implementation, and oversight, ensuring that public decisions reflect broad consultation and careful deliberation. By minimizing partisan strife, Chinese governance aims to foster shared prosperity, social harmony, and egalitarian development.

On the global stage, China upholds five guiding principles: mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. It advocates for international cooperation, peaceful development, and a shared future for humanity marked by global prosperity and mutual respect.

In contrast, Western philosophy tends to embrace an atomistic worldview, interpreting the world as composed of independent and self-serving entities. Western individualism views people as autonomous actors with conflicting interests, heavily shaped by Darwinian notions such as “the struggle for existence” and “survival of the fittest.” This perspective fosters a “law of the jungle” mentality, where defeating or overpowering others is seen as a necessity for survival (see Darwinism and Confucianism). Western culture emphasizes self-interest, personal achievement, and strategic advantage, often at the expense of collective well-being and moral responsibility. Its rhetoric on human rights is highly deceptive. While professing to promote universal freedom, it in fact only serves the interests of a privileged minority, enabling them to dominate legislation, the economy, media, military, and foreign policy to their own benefit.

Economically, Western nations champion unrestrained capitalism, driven by competition and self-interest. While this approach may spur short-term growth, it often results in rampant inequality, unchecked greed, and systemic injustice. Capital gains precedence over national welfare, benefitting only a small elite at the expense of broader society. The result is that the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and for most people, "the pursuit of happiness" has become an illusion. The prioritization of profit over production inevitably leads to the hollowing out of the economy, eventually triggering systemic crises (see America Is in Big Trouble).

Politically, Western democracies often beset by partisanship, polarization, and social fragmentation. Despite formal democratic structures, these systems can devolve into political theater, rife with empty promises, ideological extremes, and sensationalism. Politicians, frequently funded by special interests, tend to serve their donors more than the public, reducing the role of voters to a periodic ballot with little real influence (see Democracy vs. Plutocracy).

In international affairs, Western powers often adopt a hegemonic posture, relying on tactics such as divide-and-conquer, sanctions, military interventions, and regime change. These actions have destabilized regions, perpetuated global conflict, and undermined prospects for lasting peace. The success of the West historically hinges on the conquest, colonization, genocide, exploitation, and plunder of weaker nations.

For a long time, the Chinese struggled to comprehend Western behaviors, yet they have now come to understand its underlying logic. Unless Western plutocrats alter their philosophical outlook, global peace remains elusive. This sentiment was succinctly expressed by the Chinese delegation during the Sino-US talks in Alaska: "We overestimated you and assumed you would adhere to basic diplomatic norms. We must clarify our stance: You lack the authority to assert dominance over China." Despite the potential dangers inherent in this worldview, Western plutocrats are unlikely to relinquish it. It may require the collapse of the existing paradigm before humanity can aspire to construct a new world.

Thankfully, it’s becoming increasingly clear which philosophy holds more promise for humanity. As the world undergoes profound transformation, a new possibility is beginning to emerge. The rise of China and the relative decline of the West have given the Global South renewed hope. Many now glimpse the possibility of a new world order—one grounded in civilized values, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, equality, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation. This stands in stark contrast to the existing system, dominated by self-interest, inequality, exploitation, and aggression (see Pluralism vs. Monism).