On The Confucian "benevolence" Of The Similarities And Differences

This thesis centers on the connotational similarities and differences in the doctrines of benevolence put forward by Confucius and Mencius. It is acknowledged that Confucian benevolence tops the hierarchy of the four virtues, namely benevolence, righteousness, ritualism and intelligence whereas in Mencius they are of equal importance. According to Confucius, whose wholehearted embrace of the notion of ritual is pronounced, ritual encompasses not only the polished veneer but also the inward geist, without which ritual is superficial with a vacuum behind it. However, benevolence, righteousness, ritualism and intelligence form four essential dimensions of the soul, the self-sufficiency of which renders any external searching a redundancy. More importantly, the four virtues can not be attained once and for all, but require of the practitioners constant vigilance. The four virtues are ordained and providentially given. In short, Mencius has carried on the essence of Confucian ritualism. Locating the fountain of ritual, righteousness and intelligence to the soul, Mencius consummates the theory of human nature in Confucianism in order to offset the vicious force of lasciviousness during the period of Warring States. What is revealed to us is that benevolence consists in the human connections between fathers and sons, rulers and subjects, husbands and wives, brothers and friends. The thesis finally ventures a suggestion on how to reestablish the Confucian belief in an unprecedentedly secular age.