Summary: | 碩士 === 東海大學 === 哲學系 === 104 === In the wake of Max Weber’s interpretation of traditional culture and the capitalist “spirit”, discussions of moral effort in Neo-Confucianism evolved into claims of its applicability or effects on the economic and political values of East Asian cultures. Understood primarily through his interpretation of the Four Book, his conversations with students, and the model Confucian student Yan Hui, the spiritual concept of maintaining reverent composure is shown to be central to the learning and practical theory of Neo-Confucian founder, Zhu Xi. Its means and ends compared with the diligence required in Weber’s concept of Beruf, or ‘calling’, ‘effort’ or ‘moral effort’ in Cheng-Zhu metaphysics and ethics qualify Zhu Xi’s rationalism neither as an embodiment of the “spirit” of Weber’s utilitarian capitalism, nor the roots of liberal democracy in East Asia.
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