Botany has three perspectives:

First, viewing time from God's perspective;
Second, viewing wisdom from a microscopic perspective;
Third, viewing survival from a systems perspective.

Compared to zoology, botany is more rational and unemotional. All plant behaviors are based on genetic algorithms and natural selection.

To put it this way: if we decode Earth's DNA, animals at best are a urine test, while plants are a blood test.

So, do plants also have game-theoretic relationships with each other?

Actually, the plant kingdom operates the same way. If you want to survive, you must have space. Competing for soil, water, sunlight, and seeds—this is an ultimate survival algorithm.

However, this algorithm cannot be completely selfish, because you cannot dominate alone, nor can you exist in isolation from your environment. You must also act altruistically.

In relational studies, there's a concept called "Confucian improvement," which means it's not just about me being good, but about you being good, me being good, and everyone being good.

"Confucian improvement" was proposed by Zhao Tingyang, who specializes in relational rationality. Many foreign policy strategies now apply his theoretical framework. He's a brilliant scholar.

What's the core theory?

What kind of education have we received, and what is our nature?

I don't care how others fare; my winning is what matters. What is this called?

This is called individual rationality.

What is relational rationality?

Relationships come first, individuals come second. Coexistence is the basic premise. Not only must we coexist, but we must also achieve mutual success.

You don't try to eliminate me, and I don't try to eliminate you.

If individual rationality is dominant, then the strategy deployed is: I come first, my interests are maximized, and I don't care about others' life or death—like Trump's mode.

Why do many scholars say the stable order has been disrupted? Because Trump activated the individual rationality mode, where everyone prioritizes themselves first and stops considering others.

So what are the specific applications in policy?

The simplest example is the national unified market plan proposed a few years ago. This is relational rationality.