Research On Yanyuan's Utilitarianism Ethics Thought

Yanyuan is a famous scholar in 17th in our country. He is the representative of the people who is opposed to Li xue in Ming and Qing Dynasty. He and Li Gong created "Yan-Li School" ,which have had considerable impact in the circle of our country. This thesis researches Yanyuan's idea of utilitarianism from the view of ethics, and discusses it in three aspects.The first chapter analyses the basis of philosophy of Yanyuan's utilitarianism ethics thought from the aspect of humanity. On the basis of cosmic view , Yanyuan proposed the resource of human nature in criticism Song-Ming Li xue, then Yanyuan insisted virtuous humanity thought which concludes the view that temperament is no evil and human nature is good. He thought all evil was come from the habits of life. He had seen two aspects in the goodness of human nature.The second chapter mainly demonstrates Yanyuan's view on justice and profits from the aspect that both everyone and saints pursuit profits. He recognized the normal behavior of profit-driven could promote social development and the negative impact of over giving. At the last part of this chapter, author recapitulate Yanyuan's view on justice and profits in three words.The third chapter discusses Yanyuan's theory of moral cultivation which emphasizes practical science. Yanyuan believed Song-Ming Li xue was empty and even useless, advocated the practice science is the mainly content of moral cultivation. Practice was thought to be the best method of moral cultivation. Achievement was thought to be the purpose of moral cultivation. Yanyuan encouraged people to be a Saints who had Social responsibility.