The Enlightments of the Benevolence Theory of Confucius to Moral Education

• Main Authors: Liang-Yahn Chang, 張良彥
• Other Authors: Chuan-Chu Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/91967594534086027563

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 東方人文思想研究所 === 102 === The benevolence theory of Confucius is the core of Confucian ethic ideology. It is the basic behavioral principle for Chinese to conduct themselves in society for generations, and is also the traditional virtue of China. The essence of benevolence theory represents the intelligence of Chinese, and has been influencing China and the rest of the world significantly. The benevolence theory of Confucius includes three main principles: love one’s relatives, love other human beings and love all nature. Love one's relatives requires one to be filial towards parents, and to be amicable to siblings, which is natural and normal. Love other human beings requires one to be loyal and forgiving, i.e. “if one wants to stand one should assist others to stand”, “if one wants to accomplish one should assist others to accomplish”, “do not impose on others what oneself do not desire”. One should implement the merits of respect, forgiveness, trust, sensibility and benefit others. Love all nature requires one to cherish oneself and also cherish everything on earth, including animals and insects. These main principles fully demonstrates that the benevolence theory of Confucius is based on “human being”, it emphasizes on human being's subject consciousness and subject value, and develops out a broad ethical value advantage, thus it provides a precious resources for young people's ethic moral education in modern society. This essay commences from sorting and analyzing the benevolence theory of Confucius, focusing on the existing problems on moral education for young people in modern society, and tries to provide new enlightenments to the development of young people's modern education through three aspects: the goal, content and method of moral education, to enhance the effectiveness of young people’s moral education and to push the development of moral education. Various studies demonstrate that the benevolence theory commonly exists among the theory of Confucius. Confucius himself was a practitioner of the benevolence theory. He had been demonstrating this theory through his own behavior, and teaching people in accordance to their aptitude. Human beings created civilization through continuous evolution. The ancients created civilization, and civilization influenced modern people. Nowadays, it is a period where different culture coexists, Chinese and Western coexists, tradition and modern coexists. Therefore, the benevolence theory of Confucius and his Confucianism can become an important cornerstone of moral education in modern society. Modern people can implement the benevolence theory of Confucius, popularize and incept the concept of benevolence. And virtually promote the moral education, adjust moral behavior and enhance moral character Key words: