Confucian Role Ethics: Reflections From A Global Perspective
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Room 271
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Globalization, Intercultural, Understanding
Abstract
The purpose of this presentation is to critique Ames’ book Confucian Role Ethics: A Vocabulary in two categories: the global applicability of his role ethics method in presenting Confucianism to the western world, and the viability for students when studying Confucianism from a modern, western standpoint. Role ethics can be defined as a relationship-based system of ethics in which moral action is based off of community roles and person-to-person association. The issue with explaining Confucianism through this lens is that it relies heavily on cultural relativism. Several aspects of Confucianism are based upon ancient Chinese tradition–that is to say, foundational Chinese culture and Confucianism are intertwined in such a way separating the two can leave holes in understanding the religion. In this way, I will propose that Ames falls close to approaching the hermeneutical circle problem: he uses parts to explain the whole, and yet in order to truly understand the parts, one must grasp the whole. I believe a less romanticized, more in-depth view of the cultural background associated with Confucianism would help students overcome this issue. Because role ethics plays such a specific role in eastern culture, versus a more individualistic western style ethics, Ames’ method for demonstrating Confucianism runs the risk of simplifying the practice and cultural importance of the religion. The presentation will draw on other examples of the complexity of this religion, including sociologist Fe Xiaotong’s From The Soil, to further exemplify the deep-rooted foundation of Confucian ethics in the east.
Recommended Citation
Zemanek, Zoey, "Confucian Role Ethics: Reflections From A Global Perspective" (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 70.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/oralpresentations/70
Additional Mentoring Department
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Confucian Role Ethics: Reflections From A Global Perspective
SURC Room 271
The purpose of this presentation is to critique Ames’ book Confucian Role Ethics: A Vocabulary in two categories: the global applicability of his role ethics method in presenting Confucianism to the western world, and the viability for students when studying Confucianism from a modern, western standpoint. Role ethics can be defined as a relationship-based system of ethics in which moral action is based off of community roles and person-to-person association. The issue with explaining Confucianism through this lens is that it relies heavily on cultural relativism. Several aspects of Confucianism are based upon ancient Chinese tradition–that is to say, foundational Chinese culture and Confucianism are intertwined in such a way separating the two can leave holes in understanding the religion. In this way, I will propose that Ames falls close to approaching the hermeneutical circle problem: he uses parts to explain the whole, and yet in order to truly understand the parts, one must grasp the whole. I believe a less romanticized, more in-depth view of the cultural background associated with Confucianism would help students overcome this issue. Because role ethics plays such a specific role in eastern culture, versus a more individualistic western style ethics, Ames’ method for demonstrating Confucianism runs the risk of simplifying the practice and cultural importance of the religion. The presentation will draw on other examples of the complexity of this religion, including sociologist Fe Xiaotong’s From The Soil, to further exemplify the deep-rooted foundation of Confucian ethics in the east.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dippmann, Jeffrey