Dao Companion to the Philosophy of Mencius

Description

This book is about the philosophical, historical, and interpretative aspects of Mencius. It explores his influence, reception, and relevance in China from the third century BCE to the present, as well as offers comparative studies of Mencius and major figures in the history of Chinese and Western philosophy. With 34 accessible articles written by leading philosophers and scholars, the Dao Companion to the Philosophy of Mencius provides both broad pictures and in-depth discussions regarding the work of one of the most important and influential Chinese philosophers. It covers his normative ethics, meta-ethics, political philosophy, epistemology and moral psychology. The last section of the volume, “Mencius and Western Philosophers: Comparative Perspectives,” explicitly puts him in dialogue with major Western philosophers. The Dao Companion to the Philosophy of Mencius serves as an essential volume for college students, graduate students, and scholars who study and teach Mencius as well as Chinese philosophy and comparative philosophy in general.​    Acknowledgments Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Introduction 2 A Biography of Mencius 3 Authorship of the Mencius 4 Section Topics and Chapter Summaries 4.1 Section I: Mencius in the Classical Context (Pre-Qin to the Han Period) 4.2 Section II: Mencius and Neo-Confucianism 4.3 Section III Social and Political Thought 4.4 Section IV: Ethics and Epistemology 4.5 Section V: Moral Psychology and Moral Development 4.6 Section VI: Mencius and Western Philosophers: Comparative Studies 5 Conclusion References Part I: Mencius in the Classical Context (Pre-Qin to the Han Period) Chapter 2: Unravelling the Connections Between the Mozi and the Mencius 1 Introduction 2 A Hermeneutics of Informed Ignorance 3 What the Mencius Has to Say About Mo 3.1 Mencius 7B26 3.2 Mencius 3B9 3.3 Mencius 7A26 3.4 Mencius 3A5 4 Checking Mencius’s Claims in the Mozi 4.1 “Jianai” 4.2 “Jiezang Xia” 4.3 “Gengzhu” and “Gongmeng” 4.4 “Feiru” 5 Conclusion References Chapter 3: Mencius in the Han Dynasty 1 Introduction 2 Peculiarities in the Distribution of References to Mencius in Han Texts 3 One Explanation: Before Neo-Confucianism, Mencius Was Not Regarded as a Sage 4 Innate Knowledge and Human Nature 5 Popular Passages from Mencius in Han Texts 6 Conclusion References Chapter 4: The Mencius in the Context of Recently Excavated Texts 1 Introduction 2 Contextualizing the Mencius 3 XZMC and the Concept of Xing 性 (Natural Dispositions) 4 The Internal and the External 5 Wu Xing and Linking the Internal to Heaven 6 The WX Commentary and the Vital Energy (Qi) of the Virtues 7 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Mengzi’s Theory of Human Nature and Its Role in the Confucian Tradition 1 Introduction 2 Three-Character Scripture, the Guodian Chu Slips, and Mengzi’s Theory of Human Nature 3 Three Prevailing Theories of Human Nature in Mengzi’s Time 4 Mengzi’s View of Human Nature as Good 5 The Water Metaphor of Mengzi on Human Nature and Its Paradigmatic Impacts 6 Conclusion References Chapter 6: Two Visions of Confucianism: Mencius and Xunzi 1 Introduction 2 The Confucian Ideals 3 Liyi 禮義 and Renyi 仁義 4 Renyi (仁義) and Human Nature (Xing 性) 5 Ritual and Ethical Cultivation 6 The Way and the Origin of Morality 7 Conclusion References Chapter 7: Mencius, Zhuangzi and “Daoism” 1 Introduction 2 Yang Zhu 3 Gaozi 4 Moral Autonomy 5 Human Nature 6 Heaven and the “Natural” 7 Conclusion References Part II: Mencius and Neo-Confucianism Chapter 8: Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi’s Appropriations of the Mencius 1 Introduction 2 The Cheng Brothers and “Mencius’s Elevation” 3 The Cheng Brothers’ Mencian Hermeneutics 4 Human Nature 5 Extension 6 Self-Getting (Zide 自得) 7 Conclusion References Chapter 9: Zhu Xi’s Appropriation of Mencius’s Thought: From a Hermeneutic to a Developmental Approach 1 Introduction 2 Hermeneutic Approach 3 Developmental Approach 4 Zhu Xi vs. Lu Xiangshan 5 Conclusion References Chapter 10: Mencius and Wang Yangming 1 Introduction 2 Wang Yangming’s Appropriation of Mencius’s Statement that “Righteousness Is Internal” 3 Wang Yangming’s Notion of Liangzhi and Its Relation with Mencius’s Thought 4 Liangzhi: A Natural Predisposition or a Complete and Perfect Capacity? 5 Conclusion References Chapter 11: Mencius and Wang Fuzhi 1 Introduction 2 “Do Not Derogate Vital Energy to Make the Natural Human Tendency Stand Alone”: Vital Energy Is Good if the Natural Human Tendency Is Good 3 The Natural Human Tendency Is Good and the Distinction Between Human Beings and Other Beings 4 Vital Energy Is Good if Human Nature Is Good 5 “Do Not Favor a Passion to Match Human Nature”: Passions May Be Evil 6 The Significance of the Affective Mind of Dao 7 Conclusion References Chapter 12: Jeong Dasan’s Interpretation of Mencius: Heaven, Way, Human Nature, and the Human Heart 1 Introduction 2 Dasan’s Interpretation of Mencius’s Philosophy 3 Conclusion References Part III: Social and Political Thought Chapter 13: Mengzi’s View on the Public and the Private 1 Introduction 2 The Issue of the Public and the Private in the Intellectual Circle of the Warring States Period 3 Mozi’s Proposal 4 Mengzi’s Criticisms of Mozi’s View on the Public and the Private 5 Mengzi’s Proposition of the “Innateness of Righteousness” and His View on the Public and the Private 6 Critical Reflections 7 Conclusion References Chapter 14: Mencius and Early Chinese Political Thought 1 Introduction 2 Searching for the True Monarch: Mencius and the Rulers 3 Between the Ruler and the Way: Mencius on Men of Service 4 Weak Roots: Mencius on the People 5 Conclusion: Impact of Mencius’s Thought References Chapter 15: Mencius and the New Confucianism’s Pursuit of Democracy 1 Introduction 2 A Pro-democracy Mencius? 3 An Anti-monarchy Mencius? 4 The Lack of the People’s Political Subjectivity 5 Conclusion References Chapter 16: Mencius’s Political Philosophy of Ren Government: Human Dignity and Distributive Justice 1 Introduction 2 Two Accounts of Ren Government: Political Vs. Moral 3 The Kingly Way and the Way of the Hegemon 4 Distributive Justice 5 Conclusion References Chapter 17: Mencius and Political Rhetoric 1 Introduction 2 The Case for a Reading of the Mencius as Political Rhetoric 3 Political Backlash 4 The Primacy of the Personal 5 A Stair-Stepped Model for Reading the Mencius 6 Mencius on “Democracy” (Populism) 7 Conclusion References Chapter 18: Hermeneutics in the Mencius: Methods, Context, Divergence 1 Introduction 2 Two Methods in Mencius’s Hermeneutics 2.1 The Method of Tracing the Original Intention of the Author 2.2 The Method of Contextualization 3 The Two Contexts of Mencius’s Use of the Classics 3.1 The Affirmative Context 3.2 The Demonstrative Context 3.3 Recontextualization 4 Divergence from the Two Methods in Mencius’s Hermeneutics 5 Conclusion References Chapter 19: Mencius and Japanese Confucian Philosophy 1 Introduction 2 Humane Government and Political Legitimacy 3 Mencius in a Ghoulish Tale 4 Advocating Mencius 5 Criticizing Mencius 6 The Mencius in Late-Tokugawa Thought 7 The Mencius and Modern Political Thought and Action 8 Mencius in Contemporary Japan 9 Conclusion References Part IV: Ethics and Epistemology Chapter 20: Ming 命 and Acceptance 1 Introduction 2 Use of Tian and Ming in the Analects and the Mencius 3 Ming and Acceptance in the Mencius 4 The Attitude of Acceptance References Chapter 21: Mou Zongsan’s Interpretation of Mencius’s Moral Philosophy 1 Introduction 2 Mou’s Interpretation of Mencius’s Theory of “the Goodness of Human Nature” 3 Mou’s Interpretation of Mencius’s “Four Buddings” 4 Mou’s Interpretation of Mencius’s Theory of “the Inwardness of Humanity and Righteousness” 5 Conclusion References Chapter 22: Eudaimonism in the Mencius: Fulfilling Human Nature 1 Introduction 2 Preliminaries: Eudaimonism and Happiness 3 Mencius’ Persuasion to Virtue 3.1 Persuasion to the Way—Morally Neutral Desires 3.2 Persuasion to the Way—Redirecting Desires 3.3 Reasons for a Moralistic Approach 4 Foundations in Human Nature 4.1 Intrinsically Moral Desires 4.2 Morally Neutral Desires 4.3 The Way and Fulfillment of Desires 5 Happiness in the Mencius 5.1 Candidate Concepts for Happiness 5.2 Fulfilling Human Nature 5.3 Human Nature as the Linchpin of Human Flourishing 6 Conclusion: Eudaimonism as an Architectonic Principle References Chapter 23: Is Mencius a Consequentialist? Rethinking the Relationship Between Yi (Righteousness) and Li (Benefit) in the Mencius 1 Introduction 2 The Consequentialist Interpretation 3 The Problems of the Consequentialist Interpretation 3.1 The Intrinsic Moral Value of Yi 3.2 Mencius’ Objection to the Consequentialist Way of Reasoning 4 Rethinking Yi and Li in the Context of Mencian Moral Cultivation 4.1 Yi as a Developing Virtue 4.2 Solutions to the Problems Faced by the Traditional Interpretation 5 Conclusion References Chapter 24: Mencius’s Theory as a System of the Gongfu to Be Human and to Live a Good Human Life 1 Introduction 2 The Term “Gongfu” and the Gongfu Perspective 3 “Fallacies” in Mencius’s Human-Animal Distinction? 4 A Gongfu Interpretation of the Human-Animal Distinction 5 Understanding Words and Flood-Like Qi 6 The Nature of Mencius’s Philosophy and Early Confucianism in General 7 Conclusion References Chapter 25: Epistemology in the Mencius 1 Introduction 2 Mencius on Knowing Things 2.1 Knowing X and Knowing That X Is F 2.2 Knowing Things: One or Two Kinds in the Mencius? 3 Mencius, Intellectual Virtue, and Virtue Epistemology 3.1 Is Mencius a Virtue Epistemologist? 3.2 Mencian Wisdom and the Value of Knowledge 4 Knowing-to: A Different Kind of Knowledge? 4.1 Knowing-to in the Mencius 4.2 The Philosophical Significance of Mencian Knowing-to 5 Conclusion References Part V: Moral Psychology and Moral Development Chapter 26: Feeling, Reflection, and Reasoning in the Mencius 1 Introduction 2 The Inborn Duan 端 as the Beginnings of Goodness 3 The Duan as Dispositions to Feel, to Reflect, and to Reason 4 The Makings of Reflection and Reasoning in the Duan 5 Reflecting on the Pleasure of Feeding the Sprouts 6 The Difference Between Reflection and Reasoning 7 Feeling Interweaving with Reflection and Reasoning 8 Competing Views on the Role of Reasoning 9 Conclusion References Chapter 27: Mencius on Moral Psychology 1 Introduction 2 Emotion in Ancient China 3 Mencius’s View of Emotion 4 Compassion (惻隱之心) as a Concern-Based Construal 5 Respect (恭敬之心) as Distinguished from Desire and Behavioral Disposition 6 Shifei zhi xin 是非之心 as Moral Judgment 7 Reason and Emotion in the Mencius 8 How to Cultivate Moral Emotions: Competing Interpretations 9 Conclusion: Toward a New Interpretation of the Mencian Extension References Chapter 28: The Mencian Triplet of Ceyin Zhi Xin: Perceptive, Affective, and Motivational 1 Introduction 2 Kingly Sympathy 3 An Interpretation of Natural Sympathy 3.1 A Discussion of Hoffman’s 5 Modes of Sympathetic Arousal 3.2 No Ulterior Motives and Suddenness 3.3 The Affective Aspect: “I Feel Your Pain” 3.4 The Motivational Component: No Specific Action Dictated 4 The Mencian Triplet 4.1 Shared Representation 4.2 Action-Specific Perception Theory 4.3 The Russian Doll Model 5 Biology and Normativity 6 Conclusion References Chapter 29: Mencius’s Moral Psychology and Contemporary Cognitive Science 1 Introduction 2 Moral Psychology and Confucian Philosophy 3 Mencius’s Moral Philosophy and Moral Psychology 4 Mencius’s Moral Psychology of Empathy 5 The Heart-Mind of Ceyin: How Is It Possible? 6 The Mencian Creature 7 Empathic Concern and Embodied Emotion 8 Conclusion References Part VI: Mencius and Western Philosophers: Comparative Studies Chapter 30: Mencius and Augustine: A Feminine Face in the Personal, the Social, and the Political 1 Introduction 2 Two Narratives of Motherhood 2.1 Mencius and Madame Zou 鄒氏 2.2 Augustine and Monica 3 Mencius and Augustine on Women 4 A Feminine Face in the Personal, the Social, and the Political 4.1 Complementary Model of Leadership 4.2 Concentric Circles of the Self, the Familial, the Social, and the Political 4.3 Flexibility and Context 5 Conclusion References Chapter 31: Self-Determination and the Metaphysics of Human Nature in Aristotle and Mencius 1 Introduction 2 Differences Between Aristotle’s and Mencius’s Views of Human Nature 3 Pre-requisites of Self-Determination 4 Cultivating Virtues and the Conditions of Virtues 5 The State, Family and the Virtuous Individual 6 Self-Determination, Human Nature and the First Principle 7 Conclusion References Chapter 32: Mencius and Aquinas 1 Introduction 2 Optimal Human Fulfilment 3 Theoretical and Literary Accounts 4 Failure to Attain Fulfillment 5 Conclusion References Chapter 33: Mencius and Hume 1 Introduction 2 Ways to Compare the Ethics of Mencius and Hume 3 Mencius’s Cause-Focused Virtue and Hume’s Effect-Based Sentiment 4 Mencius’s Ren Yi and Hume’s Benevolence and Pride 5 Conclusion References Chapter 34: Mencius, Dewey, and “Developmental” Human Nature 1 Introduction 2 Correcting Dewey’s Mencius 3 Disrupting the Teleological Inference 4 Understanding Xing 性 in the Warring States 5 Natural Hermeneutics and Chinese Thought 6 Warring States Natural Philosophy 7 Conclusion References Index