Micro · Individual Stub -500

Confucian Ren, Li, and Junzi

공자의 인과 예, 군자론

A foundational East Asian moral philosophy asserting that true human flourishing and social harmony are achieved through internal Benevolence (*Ren*), external Ritual Propriety (*Li*), and the cultivation of the Exemplary Person (*Junzi*).

Field Philosophy · Religious Studies · Education
Level of analysis Micro · Individual
Paradigm Virtue Ethics Institutionalism
Key figures 👤 Confucius (Kongzi) (공자)
Year -500

Key Claims

Confucius grounded ethics in human interrelationality. Ren (benevolence/humaneness) is the internal core of moral selfhood, manifested externally through Li (ritual decorum and propriety). The Junzi (noble person) masters lifelong ethical self-cultivation to harmonize family, state, and cosmos.

Further Reading

  • Confucius. (ca. 500 BC). The Analects (Lunyu).

Related theories 2개

Theories pointing to this one 1개