A Study Of Confucianism And Morality In Confucianism

As a typical latecomer country to seek political modernization, China bears a heavyburden of history and faces with the arduous tasks of reformation, development andstability especially the nation-building and democratization has underwent a long andtortuous process since modern times. That we understand and build a new Chinabased on our cultural tradition shows the great vitality of traditional political thoughton the one hand and on the other hand decides the fundamental malpractice ofethic-political though has not been a clear understanding and deep reflection onmodern political philosophy from the heart.Ethic-politics is the core concepts to understand the Pre-Qin Confucianism.Confucius and Mencius’ ethic-political thought consciously inherited the politicaltraditions of monarchy, patriarchal and destiny concept since the Shang and Zhoudynasty. Based the principles of moral-power unity of political domination onhumanity, ethic-politics stressed the zhengming(naming with reality) to establishpolitical order character by the Li hierarchy and focused on the self-cultivation of thePrince hence proposed power for the high-profile ethical requirements. Relied on thebasis of enriching, the prince is to achieve moral refinement through politicalindoctrination, which shows a sentimental relationship between prince and the people.Self-cultivation and political indoctrination created a charismatic authority withpersonal moral authority. In reference with Ancient Greece and Legalists in Pre-Qindynasty, I have analysed that Confucius, Mencius and Plato are both based on ethicalnorms that formed a holism hierarchical conception of politics, that Confucianism andLegalism are both established a social integration programs characterized in "profitout of a hole" through a monarch centered base.Living in a chaos world, Confucius and Mencius had a cooperative attitude withreservations to the political reality, that is to say virtuous reign is the basic conditionof Confucian interference in domestic affairs. This tendency gives ethical politics apositive sense in social integration, regulation of the power, civilization upbringingand people participate in politics. But the deficiencies and flaws in logic of theethic-politics bring it toward the plight of Monarchism--the monarchs with highhopes for the government lose the substantive control measures, which causecirculation and disorder in the history of the dynasty. In fact, the basis of the argumentof the political thought of Confucius and Mencius is the patriarchal society, the ideals of three generations, the understanding of the human nature and destiny worship allhave its limitations. Its fundamental shortcomings is put the different areas of ethicaland political together and both eventually lost their true essence. Only to separate theethics and politics then there is a hope for the revival of Confucianism incontemporary society.