Internationally Famous Scholar Professor Chung-Ying Cheng Delivers a Lecture on Commercial Civilization and Chinese Philosophy

On March 22nd, 2017, School of Business of Macao University of Science and Technology invited the famous scholar Professor Chung-Ying Cheng to give a lecture titled "Business Civilization and C Theory Management" to the staff and students. Prof. Chung-Ying Cheng was born in Nanjing in 1935. He is a famous scholar in philosophy, esp. Chinese philosophy. Prof. Cheng is the founder of the C Management Theory and is recognized as one of the representatives of the "third generation of new Confucianism". He has been a professor of philosophy at the University of Hawaii since 1983.

In the lecture, Professor Cheng introduces the meaning of commerce, and explains the relationship between science and technology, commerce and civilization. He believes that it is the interaction of the three that contributes to the realization of people's lifestyles and the enrichment of life. Professor Cheng points out that people often forget the fundamental and focus more on the results than the causes, which is an impediment to innovation. The reason why he chooses "Commercial Civilization and C Theory Management" as the lecture topic is to let the students get to know such an organic society and understand life as a whole.

Professor Cheng was speaking passionately

Professor Cheng respects the "Book of Changes" as the base of Chinese management philosophy, and emphasizes the formation of a greater living system during the process of development and problem-solving. Professor Cheng explains that the “C” in his C theory represents China, referring to the Chinese way of life, thinking and management. China is a country full of creation. Thus, C also represents the philosophical meaning of creation. Professor Cheng's C theory emphasizes that people see Chinese civilization from mutual understanding and experiencing of the reality；and its vitality is embodied in the system of technology, economic and social systems.

Professor Cheng emphasizes the significance of a fundamental understanding of Chinese and Western civilizations when facing the problems and challenges like how small businesses form a large-scale social capital business model, and how to fight against the new mercantilism. He believes that in order to avoid the harm of Western capitalism and Industrial Revolution, we must understand the universe of life and the universe of value. Meanwhile, we have to seek capital association and applications in human and natural environment, and transform the traditional capitalism into the capitalism based on cosmic creation theory and to form the capitalized commercial civilization. Professor Cheng finally concludes the Chinese management philosophy, "Discovering truth in the natural universe, Extracting wisdom in human life, Embodying morality in social activities".

The student asked question

Professor Cheng answered the students’ questions

After the speech, the students raised questions enthusiastically. Professor Cheng answered each of them respectively. Professor Cheng and guests from other universities affirmed the teaching achievement of the School of Business and the performance of the students.

Professor Cheng took photo with students and teachers