TY - JOUR
T1 - Reconsidering ren as virtue and benevolence
AU - Rudebusch, George
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - One reason why Confucius is preeminent among Chinese philosophers is his teaching about ren. Interpreters have said many different things about ren, yet two basic assumptions are pervasive: that ren is a virtue and that ren is benevolence. I argue that it is more respectful to the text of the Analects to discard both assumptions. Instead of virtue, ren is a priority in one's motives. Instead of benevolence, ren is humane courtesy.
AB - One reason why Confucius is preeminent among Chinese philosophers is his teaching about ren. Interpreters have said many different things about ren, yet two basic assumptions are pervasive: that ren is a virtue and that ren is benevolence. I argue that it is more respectful to the text of the Analects to discard both assumptions. Instead of virtue, ren is a priority in one's motives. Instead of benevolence, ren is humane courtesy.
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U2 - 10.1111/1540-6253.12055
DO - 10.1111/1540-6253.12055
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84901022542
SN - 0301-8121
VL - 40
SP - 456
EP - 472
JO - Journal of Chinese Philosophy
JF - Journal of Chinese Philosophy
IS - 3-4
ER -