Confucius’ Ontological Ethics
Confucius associates the good and the beautiful. Li (translated variously as “ritual propriety,” “ritual,” “etiquette,” or “propriety”) embodies the entire spectrum of interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. I argue that Confucius attempts to introduce an ethical ontology, not o...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Conatus - Journal of Philosophy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/Conatus/article/view/32081 |
| _version_ | 1797790088001748992 |
|---|---|
| author | Georgios Steiris |
| author_facet | Georgios Steiris |
| author_sort | Georgios Steiris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Confucius associates the good and the beautiful. Li (translated variously as “ritual propriety,” “ritual,” “etiquette,” or “propriety”) embodies the entire spectrum of interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. I argue that Confucius attempts to introduce an ethical ontology, not of “what,” but of “the way.” The “way” of reality becomes known with the deliberate participation to the Dao. In other words, through interaction. The way people co-exist demonstrates the rationality of the associations of living and functioning together. Li, as an aesthetic-moral principle, embodies the entire spectrum of one’s interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. Li is a constitutive element of Confucian ethics and politics, highlighting the importance of beauty, and not only goodness, in human action. The worthiness of human action is judged both aesthetically and morally. Moreover, I hold that Confucius’ ethical ontology is not an ontology of “whatness” but of “howness,” according to the Dao, since Confucius primary concern was not to define the Dao, but to restore the Dao of the ancient sage-kings. The morality of the action is dependent on the way it is performed, according to the mandates of the Dao.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:59:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e3b1e04ede6a4138bf26d524f6ee25df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2653-9373 2459-3842 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:59:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | The NKUA Applied Philosophy Research Laboratory |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conatus - Journal of Philosophy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e3b1e04ede6a4138bf26d524f6ee25df2023-07-02T07:36:18ZengThe NKUA Applied Philosophy Research LaboratoryConatus - Journal of Philosophy2653-93732459-38422023-06-018110.12681/cjp.32081Confucius’ Ontological EthicsGeorgios Steiris0National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece Confucius associates the good and the beautiful. Li (translated variously as “ritual propriety,” “ritual,” “etiquette,” or “propriety”) embodies the entire spectrum of interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. I argue that Confucius attempts to introduce an ethical ontology, not of “what,” but of “the way.” The “way” of reality becomes known with the deliberate participation to the Dao. In other words, through interaction. The way people co-exist demonstrates the rationality of the associations of living and functioning together. Li, as an aesthetic-moral principle, embodies the entire spectrum of one’s interaction with humans, nature, and even material objects. Li is a constitutive element of Confucian ethics and politics, highlighting the importance of beauty, and not only goodness, in human action. The worthiness of human action is judged both aesthetically and morally. Moreover, I hold that Confucius’ ethical ontology is not an ontology of “whatness” but of “howness,” according to the Dao, since Confucius primary concern was not to define the Dao, but to restore the Dao of the ancient sage-kings. The morality of the action is dependent on the way it is performed, according to the mandates of the Dao. https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/Conatus/article/view/32081ConfuciusLiDaoethicsritual proprietyvirtue |
| spellingShingle | Georgios Steiris Confucius’ Ontological Ethics Conatus - Journal of Philosophy Confucius Li Dao ethics ritual propriety virtue |
| title | Confucius’ Ontological Ethics |
| title_full | Confucius’ Ontological Ethics |
| title_fullStr | Confucius’ Ontological Ethics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Confucius’ Ontological Ethics |
| title_short | Confucius’ Ontological Ethics |
| title_sort | confucius ontological ethics |
| topic | Confucius Li Dao ethics ritual propriety virtue |
| url | https://ejournals.epublishing.ekt.gr/index.php/Conatus/article/view/32081 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT georgiossteiris confuciusontologicalethics |