Confucian Ethics: A Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511606960

The Chinese ethical tradition has often been thought to oppose Western views of the self as autonomous and possessed of individual rights with views that emphasize the centrality of relationship and community to the self. The essays in this collection discuss the validity of that contrast as it concerns Confucianism, the single most influential Chinese school of thought. Alasdair MacIntyre, the single most influential philosopher to articulate the need for dialogue across traditions, contributes a concluding essay of commentary. This is the only consistently philosophical collection on Asia and human rights and could be used in courses on comparative ethics, political philosophy and Asian area studies.

"This volume is a scholarly work on the essential features of Confucian ethics." - Wing-cheuk Chan, Brock University

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv
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Contents
pp v-vi
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Contributors
pp vii-viii
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Contributors
pp ix-x
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Introduction
pp 1-8
- By Kwong-Loi Shun, Professor of Philosophy and East Asian Studies, University of Toronto, David B. Wong, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University
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SECTION I - RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY
pp 9-10
- By Kwong-Loi Shun, Professor of Philosophy and East Asian Studies, University of Toronto, David B. Wong, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University
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1 - Are Individual Rights Necessary? A Confucian Perspective
pp 11-30
- By Craig K. Ihara, Professor of Philosophy, California State University at Fullerton
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2 - Rights and Community in Confucianism
pp 31-48
- By David B. Wong, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University
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3 - Whose Democracy? Which Rights? A Confucian Critique of Modern Western Liberalism
pp 49-71
- By Henry Rosemont, Jr., Professor Emeritus, St. Mary's College of Maryland; Professorial Lecturer, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
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4 - The Normative Impact of Comparative Ethics: Human Rights
pp 72-100
- By Chad Hansen, Professor of Philosophy, University of Hong Kong
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SECTION II - SELF AND SELF-CULTIVATION
pp 101-102
- By Kwong-Loi Shun, Professor of Philosophy and East Asian Studies, University of Toronto, David B. Wong, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University
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5 - Tradition and Community in the Formation of Character and Self
pp 103-123
- By Joel J. Kupperman, Professor of Philosophy, University of Connecticut
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6 - A Theory of Confucian Selfhood: Self-Cultivation and Free Will in Confucian Philosophy
pp 124-147
- By Chung-Ying Cheng, Professor of Philosophy, University of Hawaii at Manoa
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7 - The Virtue of Righteousness in Mencius
pp 148-182
- By Bryan W. Van Norden, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Vassar College
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8 - Conception of the Person in Early Confucian Thought
pp 183-200
- By Kwong-Loi Shun, Professor of Philosophy and East Asian Studies, University of Toronto
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SECTION III - COMMENTS
pp 201-202
- By Kwong-Loi Shun, Professor of Philosophy and East Asian Studies, University of Toronto, David B. Wong, Professor of Philosophy, Duke University
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9 - Questions for Confucians: Reflections on the Essays in Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community
pp 203-218
- By Alasdair MacIntyre, Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame
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Glossary of Chinese Terms
pp 219-222
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Index
pp 223-228
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Confucian Ethics

A Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Contributors
pp vii-viii

Contributors
pp ix-x

Introduction
pp 1-8

SECTION I - RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY
pp 9-10

1 - Are Individual Rights Necessary? A Confucian Perspective
pp 11-30

2 - Rights and Community in Confucianism
pp 31-48

3 - Whose Democracy? Which Rights? A Confucian Critique of Modern Western Liberalism
pp 49-71

4 - The Normative Impact of Comparative Ethics: Human Rights
pp 72-100

SECTION II - SELF AND SELF-CULTIVATION
pp 101-102

5 - Tradition and Community in the Formation of Character and Self
pp 103-123

6 - A Theory of Confucian Selfhood: Self-Cultivation and Free Will in Confucian Philosophy
pp 124-147

7 - The Virtue of Righteousness in Mencius
pp 148-182

8 - Conception of the Person in Early Confucian Thought
pp 183-200

SECTION III - COMMENTS
pp 201-202

9 - Questions for Confucians: Reflections on the Essays in Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community
pp 203-218

Glossary of Chinese Terms
pp 219-222

Index
pp 223-228

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Confucian Ethics

A Comparative Study of Self, Autonomy, and Community

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