Making Public Benefits Is Righteous:Research On The Concept Of Benefit In Chen Liang’s Thought

Chen Liang’s philosophical theme centers on the benefit,while the core value of his ideas centers on the public.This paper focuses on Chen Liang’s concept of benefit,analyzing the logic of its justification,the underlying significance of the public in his theory,and its claims in the social context of his era,then illuminate the meaning of Chen Liang’s conception of benefit,which emphasize that making public benefits is righteous.In the development of the concept of benefit,the debate between righteousness and benefit at the level of empirical behavior determines that the legitimacy of the benefit lies in the value of promoting righteousness.The humanistic perspective of whether human nature is inherently good or evil implies that seeking benefits,which is necessary for living,can be justified in the community by regulating rituals.In the ontological thinking of the relationship between the principle of Heaven and human desires,the concept of benefit that corresponds to moral reality cannot be integrated into the sublime nature of morality,thus requiring an alternative value ontology for the explanation.In response,Chen Liang expounds on his theory of the Tao and the theory of the Mind.According to his theory of the Tao,"Tao lies in things" which means that Tao manifests itself in practical affairs and benefits.Pursuing practical achievements and making benefits is a reasonable and legitimate way to grasp the Tao.In his theory of the Mind,Chen Liang follows the consistent logic of Confucianism that the inner holy mind can lead to the outer great merits and justifies the practical achievements based on one’s mind.Regarding the justification of the concept of benefit,Chen Liang argues that benefits stem from human desires and should be limited by fate,therefore,the benefit restrained by fate is certainly necessary and could be reasonable.This rationality is from the core of Chen Liang’s concept of benefit:the value of the public.In contrast to emphasizing the substance of the public in Cheng-Zhu School,which views it as a physical and mental state where human overcomes their desires so that the inner self can be united with the principle of Heaven,Chen Liang focuses on the function of the public within the context of the community.He interprets the public as a principle of sharing benefits with all and uses the principle as the measure of value.This approach provides a clearer expression of how benefits can lead to righteousness:benefits obtained through the principle of the public are inherently righteous.Putting the value standard into history,it is apparent that the difference between the Kingly Way and the Dictator’s Way lies in the degree of public achieving.The actual expression of Chen Liang’s concept of benefit has two special aspects in the context of the Southern Song Dynasty.Firstly in politics,Chen Liang emphasizes the purpose of public benefits rather than the forms.Secondly,for individuals,Chen Liang sees all things as the externalizations of human desires and regards social existence as the realistic expression of "the body of one person" to argue for the right of satisfying legitimate human desires.In summary,the most valuable aspect of Chen Liang’s concept of benefit is its proposition that making public benefits is righteous.While this concept has important meaning for the reality of morality,its excessive focus on material benefits tends to neglect the sublime aspect of morality.These factors must be seriously considered when evaluating Chen Liang’s concept of benefit.