Research On Chinese Charity Ethics

With the rapid development of Chinese economy, charity has gradually become a social cause that the public is widely concerned about and actively participates in. However, charitable events and scandals occurring endlessly in recent years have impacted continuously on the optic nerve of the public and have challenged the bottom line of social morality, bringing people into doubt and puzzle about Chinese charity. It goes without saying that charity is a moral activity, but charitable events and scandals of various kinds go against it. This absurd phenomenon warns that charity calls for ethics. In an era that charity calls for ethics, charity ethics has become the focus of the academic circle and society, which makes strengthening the research of it become urgent and significant. This thesis takes the demonstration of "why charity ethics is established" as its logic starting point of theory, and systematically analyses and studies Chinese charity ethics from a perspective of a combination China and the world, by combining multidisciplinary theories such as ethical theory, sociological theory, historical theory, economic theory, etc, using a method of theory associated with practice, the use of analysis and the empirical approach. Its basic train of thought is as follows:background of the research on charity ethics---demonstration of the theory for charity ethics---historical investigation and comparison of the thought resources of charity ethics---the reality of current Chinese charity ethics---construction of the system of Chinese modern charity ethics. The thesis consists of four parts and focuses on the following issues:First, a theoretical analysis of charity and charity ethics. To begin with, this thesis, by comprehensively summarizing multi-dimensional statements of the concept of charity and comparing and analyzing the relationship between charity and public welfare, scientifically defines the concept of charity. On the basis of this, the thesis advances the concept of charity ethics through the analysis of the relationship between charity and ethics, and analyzes the levels and characteristics of charity ethics. Lastly, it demonstrates both theoretically and practically why charity ethics is established.Second, a historical investigation and comparison of the thought resources of charity ethics. This part analyzes and summarizes the historical development, the main content and basic features of both Chinese and western thought resources of charity ethics. And furthermore, it compares and analyses the thought resources of Chinese and western charity ethics so as to discover some beneficial enlightenment for the construction of Chinese modern charity ethics and the development of Chinese modern charity.Third, the development situation of current Chinese charity and an analysis of the causes for the lack of ethics. The present development of Chinese charity is good, which is reflected in the enthusiasm of all parties for participation in charity, the development of charitable organizations, the creation of new charitable patterns, the innovation of policies and legislation, etc. However, political, economic and cultural problems that occur in the course of the transformation of Chinese traditional charity into modern charity have brought about the lack of a series of ethics, mainly including the lack of integrity in charitable activities, the lack of fairness in the distribution of charitable resources, the lack of justice in the charitable institution, the weak moral consciousness and impure motivation of charitable subjects, the improper ways of charity, etc. All of these deficiencies result from a combined effect of backward ideas, misconduct and a shortage of institutional protection, etc.Fourth, a discussion of the construction of the ethical system of Chinese modern charity. It is the focus and also the purpose of this thesis---the construction of the ethical system of Chinese modern charity. On the basis of clearly defining modern charity, this thesis advances that the basic perspective for the construction of a system of Chinese modern charity ethics should include a combination of tradition and modernity, a combination of globalization and localization, and a combination of market economy and moral balance. From the above perspective for construction, following the train of thought from the abstract to the concrete, this thesis puts forward the following innovative views for the construction of a system of Chinese modern charity ethics. The first is four basic ideas for Chinese modern charity ethics:the spirit of capital, great love without borders, the spirit of contract, a combination of responsibility and rights. The second is a code of conduct for charitable subjects advocated by Chinese modern charity ethics, i.e."reasonable motivation, independence and autonomy, integrity and keeping words, equality, pragmatism and innovation" and a code of conduct for charitable objects, i.e."gratitude, self-reliance, integrity and keeping words, treasuring and care, rewarding society". The third is the institutional protection for the construction of Chinese modern charity ethics. A modern charity system mainly includes a charity system at the national level and a system for modern charitable organizations, the latter being primarily a system for modern charitable foundations. In short, a system of Chinese modern charity ethics is a theoretical one that is summarized, deepened and upgraded in the aspects of idea, conduct and system of charity.The author of this thesis expects that the construction of a system of Chinese modern charity ethics can provide some decision-making reference and theoretical basis for the solution to the ethical problems existing in the development of modern Chinese charity.