A major attempt in my study is to explore the inherent meaning in Kant's and Chu Hsi's concept of moral autonomy. In both Kant's and Chu Hsi's views on education, moral autonomy is conceived as the norm of 'an educated person'. In Chu Hsi, moral autonomy is regarded as logical requirement of Li (理). To Kant, moral autonomy is the formal standard of categorical imperative and logical premise to Practical Reason as the basis of moral principle.

It must be noted however, that the difference between their views on education comes from their respective philosophical assumptions on self actualization. In Chu Hsi, self actualization is used as a term with connotation that man is equated with heaven as co-creator, thus man's self actualization is to realize unity between heaven and humans. In Kant's view, man is the ultimate end of Nature and that man is not given the status of co-creator.