Virtue And Moralization: A Study Of The Ethical Characteristics Of Confucianism

From the perspective of western normative ethics,Confucian ethics is often defined as Virtue Ethics or Virtuous ethics.However,From the analysis of theoretical connotation and thought way,Confucian ethics is a kind of moral ethics,is clearly distinguished from Western moral ethics.In recent years,Roger Ames and a group of scholars,who have a representative theory on Confucian role ethics(???????).They analyze a moral life on the basic of a specific relationship,which has raised a controversy of the“virtue or role”of Confucian ethics.It also expands the research field of Confucian ethics and putting forward some new problems.On the basis of analysis of the current situation of Confucian ethical characteristics.This thesis aims to the perspective of the Western Virtue Ethics and considering the rationalization degree of role ethics.Based on the concept of Confucian virtue ethics with the changes of the Confucian ethics of"virtue”.The thesis will link the ethics of the Confucian ethics with those of Yin and Zhou Dynasties(????),and try to analyze how Tian-De(??)turned to Ren-De(??).In order to do this,this thesis will carry out the argument of“virtue”(??)and“moralization”(??)of Confucian ethics.Contrary to Aristotle's concept of"virtue",Confucian"virtue"as the basic object of Ren-De is gradually internalized as human conscience,and in this regard,the"ethical standard"(????)of Confucianism is actually"virtue standard"(????).This thesis discusses the characteristics of"moralization"of Confucian ethics,which is a further analysis of the practical characteristics of Confucian Virtue Ethics(???????).In addition to ethical behavior,the study of moral motivation and ethics are added,which start from Virtue Ethics but not limited to Virtue Ethics.We define the concept of“moralization”as a self-awareness of thought and action.In a word,the intention of this thesis is to clarify“virtue”and illustrate"moralization",which aim to reinterpret the theoretical construction of Confucian virtue ethics.This thesis will be divided into three parts:Introduction,Body and Conclusion.The Introduction part analyzes the current situation,value significance,dilemma and problems of Confucian ethics research by multi-dimensional observation,and summarizes the achievements of the study of Confucian ethical characteristics,employs the method of the history of philosophy thought and the comparative method of cultural study.Meanwhile,on the basis of discussing the"virtue and role"of Confucian ethics,this thesis takes into account the views of Confucian moral ethics,and tries to think about the methodology through the analysis of the priority problems of Confucian moral ethics and Confucian role ethics.Chapters one to four are the main body of the thesis.In the first chapter,the Confucian ethical characteristics are based on the research of ideological history and analyze the theoretical characteristics and structural features of Confucian ethics.We associate the concept of“virtue”of the Yin and Zhou Dynasties with“virtue”of Confucian ethics,which indicates that“virtue”of the Confucian ethics has been transformed from heaven to virtue.We try to explain the correlation between Zhou Dynasty and Confucian ethics from the perspective of the origin of Rites of Zhou's thought and the origin of the Confucian ethics.This thesis expounds the moral connotation of Confucian ethics benevolence,expounds the theoretical characteristics of Confucian ethics,emphasizes the ethical function of moral practice and ethical norms,and puts the moral characteristics of Confucian ethics into the high level of virtue.In our viewpoint,the moral character of Confucian ethics is associated to the clarification of human-beings'virtue practice,of which include two aspects of“virtue and moralization”.Chapter two and chapter three give the specific explanation of the Confucian ethical characteristics.In the second chapter,we cite Liang Shuming's theory of Ethics Standard to compare the difference between Confucians and Aristotle's concept of“virtue”,discuss the features and constituent elements of the ontology of virtue,discuss the practical and inherent nature of“virtue”ethics of Confucius and Mencius,and connect“Xing(?),Ming(?),Tian(?),De(?)”through the unity of virtue(??)and humanity(??),to interpret the unique connotation of Confucian ethics“virtue”,and to establish the guiding principle transformation of Confucian ethics qualities.In the third chapter,we discuss the practical method of Confucian ethics and analysis from the perspective of“moralization”approach,namely,the principle of behavior and cultivation method of Confucian ethics,which is further promoted by virtue of“moral conduct”and“moralization”to illustrate the unity of Confucian ethical self-discipline(??)and heteronomy(??).At the same time,we regard“moralization”as the idea of moral self-consciousness to point out the superiority of the characteristics of“moralization”.The fourth chapter is based on the integration of the relationship between Confucian ethics“virtue standard”(????)and“moral approach”(????).We take the theory of“life realm”of the modern Neo-Confucian scholar Feng Youlan into account and explain the moral awareness and understanding.We regard the characteristics of Confucian ethics as a self-discipline spirit(????).Specially speaking,it's an ethical practice of self-improvement(????).In conclusion,we further clarify the Confucian ethics as virtue ethics,and distinguish the difference of“virtue”between Western ethics and Confucian ethics.We explain the difference between self-discipline spirit and role ethics in order to solve the argument between Confucian virtue ethics with Confucian role ethics.As a whole,this thesis makes a research into the theoretical framework of Confucian Virtue Ethics,which is based on the change of Confucian ethical virtue.In a summary of relevant academic achievements,we try to employ the methodology of philosophical history method and comparative method.And we try to clarify the Confucian ethics as virtue ethics or role ethics as far as possible.In conclusion,we analyze "virtue and moralization" as a self-discipline spirit and intend to promote the study progress of contemporary Confucian ethics.