Abstract

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Keywords:: moral circle; differential mode of association; morality; differential; scope; East-West comparison

Abstract:: Moral differential circle refers to the individual mental structure for the entities worthy of differentmoral considerations. The moral differential circle has two dimensions. The first one is the scope, which meansextending some moral consideration to more types of entities. The second is the differential level, i.e. the levelof moral consideration extended to each entity. As a combination of Chinese traditional culture and Westernscientific paradigm, moral differential circle can benefit research on both moral circle and the differential modeof association ( aka chaxugeju ). On the one hand, moral differential circle contributes to the research on themoral circle by making up for a lack of differential level. On the other hand, moral differential circle contributesto research on the differential mode of association by introducing empirical research method, which helps it tobe understood by Western scholars. Hence, moral differential circle is a way of building bridges between theEast and the West. By combining these two moral conceptions closely related to different cultures, we aim atexplaining Chinese moral judgements and behaviors in a way with Chinese characteristics.