This research project focuses on the ethical teachings of Confucius, Mencius, and Mozi, examining the contending theories of the three great thinkers by delving into canonical texts—the Analects, the Mencius, and the Mozi. It deals with Confucius’ doctrine of ren (benevolence), Mencius’ idea of ren yi (benevo-lence-righteousness), Mozi’s concept of jian ai (universal love), and their war theory. The Analects and the Mencius provide intellectual sources of Confucian justification for democracy. Core Confucian values lend support to China’s socialist democracy, while some of Mozi’s thought align with communist ideas.
Sample Chapter(s)
Preface (149 KB)
Components of the Book:
- Preface
- Chapter 1. Virtues and Self-Cultivation in the Analects
- 1.1 Confucius and the Analects
- 1.2 Confucius as a Humble Transmitter
- 1.3 Joyful Learning in a Devout Community
- 1.4 Filial Piety
- 1.5 Rituals
- 1.6 Fundamental Virtues: ren, li and yi
- 1.7 Self-Cultivation: Ritual, Role, and Virtue
- Chapter 2. Virtue Ethics in the Analects
- 2.1 Virtue Ethics
- 2.2 Ethical Teachings of Confucius
- 2.3 Confucius’ Ethics
- Chapter 3. Virtues in the Mencius
- 3.1 A True Successor of Confucius
- 3.2 Philosophy of Human Nature
- 3.3 Fundamental Inclinations as the Basis of Virtue
- 3.4 The Four Hearts/Minds
- 3.5 Moral Hearts/Minds Develop into Virtues
- 3.6 The Heart-Mind and the Standard of Virtue
- 3.7 Rule-Related Virtues: Righteousness and Ritual Propriety
- 3.8 Mencius’ Virtues and Self-Cultivation
- 3.9 Courage and Self-Respect
- Chapter 4. Moral Standards in the Mozi
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Relation to Confucius and Mencius
- 4.3 Norm of Morality
- 4.4 Unity of the Norm
- 4.5 Li (Benefit) and Hai (Harm)
- 4.6 The Will of Heaven and the Benefit of the World
- 4.7 The Public Nature of Mozi’s Doctrine
- Chapter 5. The Doctrine of Universal Love
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Universality vs Partiality
- 5.3 Settings for the Doctrine of Universal Love
- 5.4 The Concept of Universal Love
- 5.5 Heaven as the Source of Universal Love
- 5.6 Universal Love and Four Terms (Ren, Yi, Quan, Qiu)
- 5.7 Application of Universal Love in the Mozi
- Chapter 6. Justification of Democracy
- 6.1 Political Ethics
- 6.2 The Relationship between Ethics and Politics
- 6.3 Mencius and Deliberative Democracy: Harmony
- Chapter 7. Heaven
- 7.1 Heaven in the Analects
- 7.2 Heaven in the Mencius
- 7.3 Heaven’s Intention and Heavenly Virtue in the Mozi
- Chapter 8. Ethical Thought on Warfare
- 8.1 Historical Background
- 8.2 Key Ideas
- 8.3 Legitimate Use of Force
- 8.4 The Morality of War
- 8.5 Mozi’s Anti-War Position
- References
Readership:
Students, academics, teachers and other people attending or interested in Ethics.
Dongxin Shu
He holds a PhD in cultural studies and teaches ideological and political courses at Yancheng Institute of Technology. His research interests include civic education, sinified Marxism, and fine traditional Chinese culture. His papers have appeared in Chinese Studies, Open Journal of Philosophy, Open Journal of Political Science, and Advances in Applied Sociology, among other publications.