Rethinking the individual through Chinese ontology: Implications for International Relations theory and humanitarian intervention
2016
Abstract
Through utilizing correlative ontology, which is derived from ancient Chinese philosophy, this article offers a redefinition of the individual (subject), which subsequently helps to problematize the 'particular versus universal' distinction. It is then shown how correlative ontology might be useful for criticizing and stimulating the English School of International Relations and its two main views (i.e. solidarism and pluralism) on humanitarian intervention.
The significance is that correlative ontology helps to challenge 'solidarism qua universalism' and 'pluralism qua particularism'.