Aristotle and Confucius

Aristotle And Confucius: Philosophical Differences
By
Deirdre Roby
My aim in this essay is to compare Aristotle's conception of virtue with
Confucius' key notion of ren--which has also been interpreted as "virtue". The issue is
of current interest given the distinction between ethics and morality in the
contemporary revival of Aristotelian virtue ethics. Confucius has been interpreted as a
thinker who concentrated on ethics or moral philosophy. Now, with regard
to the distinction between ethics and morality, we may ask on which side Confucius
lies. Is ren, understood as a virtue, the sort of virtue that should be treated as standing
in contrast to morality? I hope that the following synoptic comparison of these two
complex notions will be helpful not only in achieving a mutual illumination but also in
bringing Confucius' thinking into the framework of contemporary virtue ethics.
Confucius believed that the most important virtue a person could have was a respect
for the rules of propriety, the rules governing the attitudes of society. In The Analects,
he said that “Respectfulness, without the rules of propriety, becomes laborious bustle;
carefulness, without the rules of propriety, becomes timidity; boldness, without the
rules of propriety, becomes insubordination; straightforwardness, without the rules of
propriety, becomes rudeness.” He believed that without these rules, society would
cease to function as a body. He said that it was through strictly following this set of
specific rules that men in society would become upright citizens. Key to the rules of
propriety was the idea of filial piety, the support and respect of one. Aristotle once
said, “Man is by nature a political animal.” While this may be true, men are by no
means bound to agree with one another regarding politics.
They had so many commons, such as the identical virtues with more common
than difference, or the resembled virtues with half common and half difference. We
can also find their specificities, such as opposite virtue with more differences than
common and their respective unique ethical virtues. However, all above ethical virtues,
no matter how different they were, Aristotle and Confucian saw them virtues of mean.
They thought the virtues were important but must be moderate to avoid extremes, and
the norm was "should" for Aristotle but "going too far is as bad as not going far
enough" for Confucius.
Confucius sometimes viewed ren as a particular quality, along with being clever,
trustworthy, forthright, courageous, unbending, and so on. The distinction between
ren as exclusive and inclusive is well recognized. Question, is there a unified notion to
cover all these aspects?
Aristotle made several efforts to explain how moral conduct contributes to the
good life for human agents. The aim of Aristotle's logical treatises was to develop a
universal method of reasoning by means of which it would be possible to learn
everything there is to know about reality. Aristotle's distinction between intellectual
virtue and ethical virtue is hence not only based on the two parts of the soul, but
corresponds to the dual dimensions of a person's human nature as a purely rational
animal and as a social animal. There are various debates regarding how to reconcile
these. In Aristotle's ethics, they lead to two seemingly incompatible notions of
eudemonia (happiness). Eudemonia is the activity that expresses virtue. On the other

hand, eudemonia as the most desirable sort of life needs to include all intrinsically
worthwhile activities and, in addition, external goods. The issue that is more essential
to our current purpose is this: is ethical virtue determined more fundamentally by
the established habits and customs of the particular cultural and historical context into
which one happens to be thrown, or by human rationality, which belongs to any self-
determining agency? Intellectual virtue includes theoretical wisdom, and practical
wisdom. While theoretical wisdom does not involve action, practical wisdom is
"concerned with action about what is good or bad for a human being"
Citations:
Moore, B. N. & Bruder, K. (2005). Philosophy: The power of ideas (6th ed.). Boston:
McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Ellis, John (ed.), 1992. Ancient Minds, Spindel Conference, October 1992 (The
Southern Journal of Philosophy, 31, supplement).
Online English Translation of the Analects, the Internet Classics Archive (MIT)

Aristotle and Confucius

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aristotle and Confucius

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aristotle and Confucius

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aristotle And Confucius: Philosophical Differences

Confucius' key notion of ren--which has also been interpreted as "virtue". The issue is

of current interest given the distinction between ethics and morality in the

contemporary revival of Aristotelian virtue ethics. Confucius has been interpreted as a

thinker who concentrated on ethics or moral philosophy. Now, with regard

lies. Is ren, understood as a virtue, the sort of virtue that should be treated as standing

in contrast to morality? I hope that the following synoptic comparison of these two

bringing Confucius' thinking into the framework of contemporary virtue ethics.

rules of propriety, becomes insubordination; straightforwardness, without the rules of

enough" for Confucius.

trustworthy, forthright, courageous, unbending, and so on. The distinction between

cover all these aspects?

universal method of reasoning by means of which it would be possible to learn

everything there is to know about reality. Aristotle's distinction between intellectual

corresponds to the dual dimensions of a person's human nature as a purely rational

these. In Aristotle's ethics, they lead to two seemingly incompatible notions of

eudemonia (happiness). Eudemonia is the activity that expresses virtue. On the other

to our current purpose is this: is ethical virtue determined more fundamentally by

determining agency? Intellectual virtue includes theoretical wisdom, and practical

McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

You might also like