Lao-Yang’s “Dao Generates All Things, Dao Follows Nature”: A Scientific-Philosophical Model of “Unity of Heaven and Humanity”

The concept of “unity of heaven and humanity” (tian-ren he-yi) is a central proposition in Chinese intellectual tradition. However, within the classical Confucian framework, it is often ethicalized and anthropocentric, placing humans at the center of the cosmos. This has contributed to ecological imbalances, technological risks, and systemic crises in civilization. Based on the Lao-Yang Genesis Cosmology, this paper proposes a Lao-Yang model of unity of heaven and humanity, transforming the concept from a philosophical ideal into a scientific, systematic, and operational framework for civilization. Its core lies in the cosmological generative chain of “Dao generates all things, Dao follows nature”: galaxy → sun → Earth → moon → life → civilization, where humans and all other beings function as nodes within a system, and the development of civilization follows natural constraints and hierarchical adaptation. Through literature analysis, cosmological evolution theory, complex systems, and cybernetics, this study systematically elaborates the philosophical foundations, cosmic system structure, principles of natural civilization, technological adaptation, and applied value of Lao-Yang’s unity of heaven and humanity. Results indicate that the Lao-Yang framework is theoretically decentralized, non-ethicalized, and empirically verifiable, providing a scientific basis for ecological governance, technological system control, and risk management in modern civilization. Future research directions include modeling the cosmological generative chain, simulating civilizations, interdisciplinary applications, and long-term strategies for aligning civilization with cosmic laws. This study demonstrates a pathway to integrate classical philosophical ideas with modern scientific methodology, offering a theoretical and practical framework for sustainable global civilization.