Theorizing Confucian Virtue Politics
The Political Philosophy of Mencius and Xunzi

Makes Mencius' and Xunzi's political thought accessible to political theorists, philosophers and scientists with no expertise in classical Chinese or sinology.

Sungmoon Kim (Author)

9781108460569, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 19 August 2021

251 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.394 kg

'The book is likely to be of interest primarily to specialized scholars and researchers in Confucian political theory … an enjoyable and enlightening read also for general students of Chinese culture and religion.' Lehel Balogh, Religious Studies Review

Surprisingly little is known about what ancient Confucian thinkers struggled with in their own social and political contexts and how these struggles contributed to the establishment and further development of classical Confucian political theory. Leading scholar of comparative political theory, Sungmoon Kim offers a systematic philosophical account of the political theories of Mencius and Xunzi, investigating both their agreements and disagreements as the champions of the Confucian Way against the backdrop of the prevailing realpolitik of the late Warring States period. Together, they contributed to the formation of Confucian virtue politics, in which concerns about political order and stability and concerns about moral character and moral enhancement are deeply intertwined. By presenting their political philosophies in terms of constitutionalism, Kim shows how they each developed the ability to authorize the ruler's legitimate use of power in domestic and interstate politics in ways consistent with their distinctive accounts of human nature.

Introduction
Part I. Confucian Constitutionalism: 1. Interest, morality, and positive Confucianism
2. Virtue, ritual, and constitutionalism
3. Before and after ritual: moral virtue and civic virtue
Part II. Wang, Ba, and Interstate Relations: 4. The psychology of negative Confucianism
5. Hegemonic rule: between good and evil
6. Responsibility for all under heaven
Conclusion: between old and new.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Social & political philosophy [HPS]