A Cognitive Linguistic Approach To “Ren” In The Analects

Based on embodied philosophy, Cognitive Linguistics takes language as a result of human mind. With human experiences as the basis, language which relies on the process of the formation of concept is actually a reflection of this process. The process in which the human concept is formed takes prototypes as its basis, and its realization is through categorization; meanwhile, it is related to metaphor and metonymy. Being the major research methods of Cognitive Linguistics, the theory of categorization and the theory of conceptual metaphor have provided effective theoretical support for exploring the relationship between the meaning of language and human experiences.The present thesis takes The Analects as its corpus, and adopts Cognitive Linguistics as the perspective, and aims at a systematic analysis of the conceptual meanings and influences of benevolence at different levels, which are based on categorization theory and conceptual metaphor theory. The principal aims of research of the present thesis include: 1. While analyzing the conceptual categorization of benevolence and the formation of its conceptual system, the author of this paper is to explain why benevolence has been regard9 ed as the highest moral principle and ethical rule. 2. The author of the present thesis aims to explore the cognitive mechanism of benevolence from the perspective of conceptual metaphor, and will explain why benevolence as an abstract concept has been widely spread and has imposed a great influence upon the Chinese culture. The present thesis will employ the introspective research method. And this thesis takes the English version of The Analects by Wu Guozhen’s(2012) as reference, which is recommended by Confucian Institute Headquarters for overseas students.The research findings of the present thesis are as follows: 1. It is a conceptual and categorical analysis of benevolence, and is a study of the relationship of benevolence with other virtues. The thesis is also a detailed exposition of the conceptual system of benevolence, and how it becomes the core of the moral criterion and ethical principle of the Chinese nation. 2. By analyzing the conceptual metaphors in The Analects, the author of this thesis has worked out the cognitive ways of people in terms of the concept of benevolence. Such cognitive ways which are based on individual experiences are to pave the way for the extensive spreading of benevolence. 3. Not only the expressions of Confucius concerning benevolence are metaphorical, the essence of the Confucian ideology in relation to benevolence is metaphorical as well. Filial piety as the metaphorical manifestation of benevolence indicates that the essence of Confucian ideology is the realization of benevolent government instead of establishing the ethical codes to confine the mass. The misunderstanding of Confucian ideology on the part of the scholars and common people is owing to the facts that the sayings in The Analects lack concrete contexts, that people are likely to have a superficial interpretation of Confucian benevolence, and that people have been ignorant of the social context and cultural context. In it specific social background, the Confucian ideology takes man as its focus and follows the order of feudalism. The purpose of the Confucian benevolent government is to achieve the harmony between society and families, between man and man, and between man and society. This, so to speak, is the ideological core of Confucius in terms of benevolence.The author of the present thesis has argued that the process in which benevolence as a concept is categorized is also the process in which its meanings are formed; and the use of metaphors has enriched the connotations of benevolence. This provides a strong basis upon which other scholars can have a better control of the benevolence theory of Confucius. The present thesis has laid a solid foundation for people to grasp the essence of the Confucian benevolence theory. Owing to the fact that human beings are similar in experiences, the cognitive way of studying the concept of benevolence adopted in the thesis has referential value for the cultural exchanges between China and the West, and can also serve as a good basis for the spreading of Chinese ideals and values. Meanwhile,the findings in this thesis are supportive of the views and ideas of Cognitive Linguistics in relation to categorization theory and metaphorical theory. The present thesis has highlighted the function of categorization and metaphor in the formation of human conceptual meanings. It is also of referential value when people attempt to apply the ways and methods of Cognitive Linguistics to study ancient Chinese classics and cultural elements.