Journal of Political and Legal Thought -- Introduction to Pre-Qin Confucian Political Philosophy

Author: Zhao Ming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: This book aims to construct the meaning logic of pre-Qin Confucian political philosophy and highlight its fundamental "problem consciousness." Reconstructing order is a paramount intellectual theme of pre-Qin Confucianism. As political philosophy, pre-Qin Confucianism presents us with a landscape of conflict between the spiritual and the desires, and the noble and the base aspects of human nature. Thus, "the Way" (Dao), "the Sage" (Shengren), and "the Gentleman" (Junzi) hold special significance in pre-Qin Confucian political philosophy. The Sage confirms the spiritual direction of the political system revealed by the Dao; the Gentleman is the practical political actor who can truly comprehend and grasp the Dao and strives toward the ideal political system established by the Sage. The Gentleman's "overcoming oneself and returning to rituals" (keji fuli) is established as a fundamental political practice. Pre-Qin Confucianism and modern liberal political philosophy construct two different intellectual worlds, offering valuable resources for reflecting on the "modernity" issue.