I first came across the terms “Conceptual Humanity” and “Concrete Individuals” through the works of Chinese author Luo Xiang. His three books Paradoxes of Law, The Faith as Premise of Freedom, and The Details of Law, explore law with a unique blend of philosophy, humanity, and behavioral analysis.
Luo Xiang is a renowned Chinese jurist, serving as a professor of law and director of the Institute of Criminal Law at the China University of Political Science and Law.
He is also a lawyer specializing in criminal justice and sex crimes. His engaging and humorous teaching style has made him widely popular, especially through viral videos on platforms like Bilibili.
Initially, I saw a few of his videos and admired his ability to explain legal concepts clearly, but I didn’t pay much attention to the content itself. However, after purchasing and reading his books, I discovered that they were far from dry legal texts. Instead, they contained deep philosophical discussions on human nature and the law.
The Impact of Conceptual vs. Concrete Thinking
Reading these books made me realize how arrogant, ignorant, and naive I have been in my approach to understanding the world. The most powerful lesson I took away was the distinction between Conceptual Humanity and Concrete Individuals. But what do these terms mean?
Conceptual thinking involves broad ideas and abstract understanding. For example, we may have a general concept of how the stock market works, how economies function, or how societies operate.
However, when asked to explain specific details such as the mechanisms behind inflation or stock market fluctuations, many of us may struggle. Conceptual knowledge is broad but often lacks depth and practical application.
On the other hand, concrete thinking involves specific, detailed understanding and practical application. It requires monitoring stock market trends, understanding how inflation affects businesses, and learning the complexities of human relationships.
It is the difference between merely knowing about something and truly understanding and practicing it.
My Struggle with Conceptual vs. Concrete
I admit that I have always loved conceptual thinking. It is effortless, I can imagine things, daydream, and feel satisfied without taking any action.
For example, I may say that I admire human unity in times of crisis, but when it comes to actively helping others, I hesitate because I fear personal inconvenience. It is easy to express ideals, but much harder to act on them.
Luo Xiang gave an example of a man who passionately declared his love for all humanity and his unwavering loyalty to his partner, yet his actions contradicted his words. That was an “ouch” moment for me. It made me reflect on how often I have held noble ideas without taking real action.
Applying This Lesson to My Life
This realization forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth: I love the idea of doing things more than the actual process of doing them. I have many interests like drawing, blogging, design, piano, and reading, but I am not particularly skilled in any of them.
I used to wonder why I kept failing to improve. Now I understand it was because I enjoyed the concept of mastering these skills but avoided the effort required to develop them.
For years, I fantasized about drawing beautiful portraits, playing full piano pieces, designing stunning digital templates, and writing insightful articles. But without practice, these remained just fantasies. I had been stuck in conceptual thinking, failing to transition into concrete action.
Final Thoughts
I am grateful that I read Luo Xiang’s books. They helped me identify a crucial flaw in my mindset and motivated me to bridge the gap between ideas and action.
Now, I am committed to shifting from merely conceptualizing success to concretely working toward it.
I hope this article resonates with others who, like me, have been caught in the trap of conceptual thinking.
If you find yourself loving ideas but struggling to execute them, maybe it’s time to shift your focus from the abstract to the tangible. After all, true growth comes not from what we imagine doing, but from what we actually do.