Description
Book SynopsisFor much of the twentieth century, Confucianism was condemned by Westerners and East Asians alike as antithetical to modernity. This book shows how classical Confucian theory - with its emphasis on family ties, self-improvement, education, and the social good - is highly relevant to the pressing dilemmas.
Trade Review"The recent resurgence of interest in Confucius and Confucianism has been reflected in an outpouring of books on all aspects of this important tradition. With this excellent volume, Bell ... offers an indispensable collection of essays that address the contemporary relevance of classical Confucian ideas. Organized into chapters focusing on civil society, justice, pluralism, feminism, and war, Bell's latest offering combines previously published pieces with new articles from a range of significant authors... These and other thought-provoking essays make this an indispensable addition to any serious collection of contemporary political thought."--R. Parrish, West Texas A&M University, for CHOICE "Even for the non-specialist, Confucian Political Ethics is a lively and easily ingested read."--John A. Coleman, Politics and Religion "This excellent volume is relevant to a wide range of readers in such diverse fields as history, law, politics, sociology, feminist theory, comparative religion, and comparative philosophy. It will surely stimulate thoughtful reflection and debate for many years to come."--Sarah A. Queen, Journal of Law and Religion
Table of ContentsPREFACE by Daniel A. Bell ix PART ONE: STATE AND CIVIL SOCIETY 1 CHAPTER ONE: Confucian Conceptions of Civil Society by Richard Madsen 3 CHAPTER TWO: Confucian Perspectives on Civil Society and Government Peter Nosco 20 CHAPTER THREE: Civil Society, Government, and Confucianism: A Commentary Henry Rosemont, Jr. 46 PART TWO: BOUNDARIES AND JUSTICE 59 CHAPTER FOUR: Territorial Boundaries and Confucianism by Joseph Chan 61 CHAPTER FIVE: Boundaries of the Body and Body Politic in Early Confucian Thought by Michael Nylan 85 PART THREE: ETHICAL PLURALISM 111 CHAPTER SIX: Confucian Attitudes toward Ethical Pluralism by Joseph Chan 113 CHAPTER SEVEN: Two Strands of Confucianism by Lee H. Yearley 139 PART FOUR: CONTEMPORARY FEMINISM 145 CHAPTER EIGHT: Gender and Relationship Roles in the Analects and the Mencius by Sin Yee Chan 147 CHAPTER NINE: The Confucian Concept of Ren and the Feminist Ethics of Care: A Comparative Study by Chenyang Li 175 PART FIVE: WAR AND PEACE 199 CHAPTER TEN: The Implications of Ancient Chinese Military Culture for World Peace by Ni Lexiong 201 CHAPTER ELEVEN: Just War and Confucianism: Implications for the Contemporary World by Daniel A. Bell 226 CONTRIBUTORS 257 INDEX 259
