On Xun Zi's Thoughts On Ethical System

This thesis tries to use the theory of ethical system to study the concept of rite of Xun Zi,who is a pre-Qin Dynasty Confucian. Xun Zi had constructed a theory of ethical system morethan 2000 years ago. So this thesis is a practice in carrying out interdisciplinary study. Thisthesis compares the Kong Zi's and Meng Zi's moral idealism with Xun Zi's realistic opinionson moral problems in this thesis. This thesis on the one hand affirms ethical system decisivein building social morality, in which moral idealism has proved ineffectual, on the other handpoints out that ethical system can't solve all the moral problems, and the positive effect ofmoral idealism in the field of private morality cannot be erased.This thesis consists of six parts: in the introduction, a concise narrative of the studycondition of ethical system and Xun Zi's concept of rite is given; first chapter, explanation ofwhy Xun Zi constructed a theory of ethical system; second chapter, discussion of how Xun Ziconstructed the theory of ethical system; third chapter, deliberation of the important historicalinfluence of Xun Zi's thoughts on ethical system; forth chapter, discussion of the limitationsof Xun Zi's thoughts on ethical system. The conclusion is that we must use the ethical systemto improve our social morality.