Big me and little me: a Chinese perspective on self.

To achieve peace and harmony in this world, it is essential to recognize our common humanity across differing cultures. However, our enthusiasm for universal principles may at times lead us unknowingly to advocate what is in fact an ethnocentric attitude, hindering mutual understanding. Simpson's (1974) attack on moral development research attests to this. On the other hand, attempts to compare and contrast cultural differences may result in oversimplification. To steer a course between the Scylla of parochialism and the Charybdis of superficiality, the present paper will explore a Chinese perspective regarding a common human condition.