Empirical Confucian Moral Thought and Its Historical Evolution

Author: Deng Siping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-08-01
Features: Confucius proposed moral requirements based on the human nature of seeking profit and avoiding harm, which is the premise of his entire moral theory. Confucius categorized moral behavior into two modes of occurrence: primary and advanced morality. According to the psychological effects caused by feelings of unease, it serves as internal persuasion and justification, driving the occurrence of primary moral behavior. By cultivating moral rationality through learning, it serves as external persuasion and justification, establishing the motivation for advanced moral behavior. An individual who starts with advanced morality will inevitably receive repayment in return with primary morality, finally achieving the result of benefiting both oneself and others.