Abstract

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Title:: Methods of thinking of Confucian ethics——discussion on the basis of liferelated examples in Mencius

Author(s):: PAN Xiaohui ; Department of Philosophy, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei 11114, Taiwan, China

Keywords:: ; Confucianism; ethics; Mencius; sacrificing one‘s life for sake of righteousness

Abstract:: On the basis of some life related examples in Mencius, this paper discusses questions of Confucian ethical thinking: firstly, to observe Confucian principles and thinking under certain situation by distinguishing between “the ritual” (Confucian classics) and “changeability”; secondly, to observe the transcendence of Confucian ethics by distinguishing between “life” and “righteousness”; moreover, to observe Confucian ethics in treatment of animals by “You (ZI Gong) love the sheep, but I (Confucian) prefer the ritual (a story to show Confucian attaching importance to the ritual) and “seeing the cattle but not sheep (a story to show Mencius ethics)”. It tries to find out the logic of Confucian ethical thinking. According to the analysis, it proves that there is a similar principle thinking between Confucian ethics and western philosophy; and a basic ethical principles can be concluded in Confucian: “righteousness” is above “human’s lives”, “human‘s lives” is above “the ritual”, and “the ritual” is above “animals lives”; Confucianism don’t focus on the status of animals lives, but the reasonable relationship between animals and people, which is the focus of the appropriate treatment; only the entities of “person” exist, we must face them with sincere and true feelings. This is the true meaning of “Being benevolent distinguishes men from animals”, which is also fundamental Confucian ethics thinking.