Developmental Orientation of Confucian Ethics：The Rule of HumanRelations and the Idea of Immanent Transcendence(PDF)
《南京师大学报》（社会科学版）[ISSN:1006-6977/CN:61-1281/TN]
- Issue:
- 2017年06期
- Page:
- 5-
- Research Field:
- 【哲学研究】
- Publishing date:
Info
- Title:
- Developmental Orientation of Confucian Ethics：The Rule of HumanRelations and the Idea of Immanent Transcendence
- Author(s):
- XU Jia
- Keywords:
- Confucian ethics; theory of xinxing; way of gangji; rule governing human relations; immanenttranscendence
- PACS:
- -
- DOI:
- -
- Abstract:
- Since the early 20th century，the modern transformation of Confucian ethics has produced fourtheoretical forms，namely the theory of xinxing 心性（literally disposition and character）；the way of gangji 纲纪（literally rules and regulations） governing social activities；the principles governing interpersonal relations；and the immanent transcendence of spiritual belief. Although these theoretical achievements have promotedthe development of Confucian ethics，they have hardly enhanced the influence of Confucianism in practice.The doctrine of self-limited conscience proposed by the modern neo-Confucianism provides new perspectivesbut cannot establish the political foundation for science and modernity. The collapse of patriarchal family andpolitical systems together with the feudal society not only resulted in the disappearance of the way of gangji，but also made it difficult to achieve the political ideal of the Confucian ethics. By comparison，the Confucianhuman relations combined with modern ethics still have great impact on social conventions，custom andindividual moralities. According to the theory of immanent transcendence，Confucianism has shaped Chinesepeople’s ethical consciousness，moral thoughts and spiritual pursuits，demonstrating the importance of nonreligiousbelief. Therefore，in the journey to modern civilization，the Confucian human relations and immanenttranscendence，if reinterpreted and reconstructed according to the social and cultural developments，will stillform the source of values for Chinese people，which is the developmental orientation of Confucian ethics in thefuture.
Last Update: 2017-11-25