Q0417
“The function of philosophy is not to increase positive knowledge, but to…” — Feng Youlan (A Short History of Chinese Philosophy)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: A Short History of Chinese Philosophy. Theme: philosophy.
English
The function of philosophy is not to increase positive knowledge, but to raise the level of the spirit.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to A Short History of Chinese Philosophy and files it under Modern New Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Feng Youlan
Feng Youlan (1895–1990) was a leading twentieth-century historian and reconstructor of Chinese philosophy, trained partly at Columbia under pragmatist influence. His multi-volume History of Chinese Philosophy introduced generations to a systematic narrative of schools.
How to read this passage
This passage is indexed under . Those labels identify the concepts it can illuminate; they do not replace the argument surrounding it in A Short History of Chinese Philosophy.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Feng Youlan. (n.d.). The function of philosophy is not to increase positive knowledge, but to raise the level of the spirit. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0417
MLA: Feng Youlan. “The function of philosophy is not to increase….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0417.
Chicago: Feng Youlan. “The function of philosophy is not to increase….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0417.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The function of philosophy is not to increase…”?
The passage is attributed to Feng Youlan, A Short History of Chinese Philosophy. The archive attributes this English wording to A Short History of Chinese Philosophy and files it under Modern New Confucianism. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Feng Youlan mean by philosophy?
This passage is indexed under . Those labels identify the concepts it can illuminate; they do not replace the argument surrounding it in A Short History of Chinese Philosophy.