Verified Document

Confucianism The Increasing Globalization Of Research Proposal

(Fetzer; Soper, 148) The excesses of Western-style individualism and democracy can be moderated through application of a few of the Confucian values. For instance, filial piety and social/moral responsibilities towards an individual's role in the social hierarchy can bring about a greater awareness about an individual's obligations towards previous generations as well as look beyond the confines of self-interests to embrace the interests of the community as a whole. This can also act as a successful deterrent to some types of political liberalism which prioritize individual rights with absolutely no concern for the cultural and social context which are essential for the expression of those rights. (Fetzer; Soper, 148)

Confucianism calls for infusing an ethical fabric into the political realm and not the abuse of political might to enforce ethical life. Confucian hierarchy, at no point of time, deviates from the fundamental respect that humanity or human relations demand. According to scholars like Ouyang Xiu, Confucianism has never backed a constant or static standpoint on political authority or life. Confucian hierarchy does not support the abuse of political power; instead it supports a social order system in which people at all levels of the hierarchy including the people and political authorities conduct their lives as per rites which advise the principles of morality. (Ackerly, 572)

It has been suggested that Confucianism and democracy are definitely not incompatible partners but are subject to the manipulations of narrow-minded selfish political leaders. Most political and social philosophies put forward for the betterment of human society have been subjected to distortion ranging from the mild to the very extreme by diverse interpreters and so-called guardians of society. Therefore, a much more balanced viewpoint with logical interpretations is required keeping social harmony and regional context in mind. (Fetzer; Soper, 151)

However, Confucianism is not restricted only to the region in which it was conceived. The value of "ren" or humaneness is similar to the ideals espoused by Western human rights. Some social scientists have observed that Confucian societies have survived through...

Developing an international cross-cultural political theory requires critical and deliberative thought with inputs from various rich sources of which Confucianism is particularly significant. (Ackerly, 574)
If Confucian political thought is democratically interpreted, it may lead to the following three ideas which may be particularly significant in the international political domain: (a) the belief that people, in general, have the capability of "ren" (humaneness), and thus can become "potentially virtuous contributors to political life," (b) the belief that the institutions of economic, social and political life work in a manner that that helps to cultivate "the virtue of being a perfected human being," (c) the belief that there will be ample public opportunities for political criticism as well as for a continuous contestation about the behavior, responsibilities, and duties at all levels of the hierarchy starting from the ordinary citizen to the top official along with the working of the institutions which are responsible for the development of that behavior. (Ackerly, 574) Given the conditions in which Confucianism developed, it was a highly advanced form of socio-political philosophy and it simply has to be re-interpreted in the perspective of the modern-globalized world.

References

Ackerly, Booke. A. Is Liberalism the only way toward democracy? Political Theory, vol. 33, no. 4, August 2005, pp: 547-576.

Fairbank, John King; Goldman, Merle. China: a new history. Harvard University

Press. 1998.

Fetzer, Joel S; Soper, J. Christopher. The Effect of Confucian Values on Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, vol. 3, no.1, pp: 143-154.

Hsu, Cho-Yun. Applying Confucian Ethics to International Relations. pp: 148-169.

Lutz, David W. African Ubuntu Philosophy and Philosophy of Global Management.

N.A. Confucius: Ritual & Humaneness.

Roetz, Heiner. Confucian ethics of the axial age: a reconstruction under the aspect of the - New York Profession. 1993.

Sources used in this document:
References

Ackerly, Booke. A. Is Liberalism the only way toward democracy? Political Theory, vol. 33, no. 4, August 2005, pp: 547-576.

Fairbank, John King; Goldman, Merle. China: a new history. Harvard University

Press. 1998.

Fetzer, Joel S; Soper, J. Christopher. The Effect of Confucian Values on Support for Democracy and Human Rights in Taiwan. Taiwan Journal of Democracy, vol. 3, no.1, pp: 143-154.

<http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:Y1O8aKOrveUJ:www.isbee.org/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_docman%26task%3Ddoc_download%26gid%3D179%26Itemid%3D39+confucianism+management+David+W.+Lutz&hl=en&gl=in&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjuXUFpriviUBX4O-Y98VYaWm_7RkjdvB1rNPBreiQwfV4upZ_5gr6oWJxWoGVyjp2umzMNl0F75fa1VfcckKc2ULI2M-DNQkmjreoAgDMTFsPPGFzBgYRqkkKw8FoLodslhIpf&sig=AHIEtbQjj3n6F41DQKFg1vYo-dsa5oY8Gg>
<http://brian.hoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/HST330/03.Confucius.html>
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Neo-Confucianism Is a Philosophy Which Was Born TEST1
Words: 1227 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Teaching English to non-English speaking people for the purpose of conflict resolution This paper presents a discussion regarding the importance of teaching English to non-English speaking people for the purpose of conflict resolution. The writer uses several examples of common conflicts in which the understanding of the English language would have made communication much easier. There were six sources used to complete this paper. GETTING PEOPLE ON THE SAME PAGE IN COMMUNICATION With

Neo-Confucianism Is a Philosophy Which Was Born TEST1
Words: 6352 Length: 20 Document Type: Research Proposal

K-12 Curriculum and Instruction: Changing Paradigms in the 21st Century This is not your grandfathers' economy or his educational paradigm however; today's curriculum still appears as such and therein lays a very significant and challenging problem that presents to today's educators and leaders. According to Sir Ken Robinson, "We have a system of education that is modeled on the interest of industrialism and in the image of it. Schools are still

Social Unit a Country: Japan, United Kingdom
Words: 773 Length: 3 Document Type: Essay

Social unit a country: Japan, United Kingdom You complete assignment order: Step One: Write a paragraph redefines social unit concisely articulates related globalization -- affect affecting. Step Two? Find a total FOUR (4) peer-reviewed sources relate social unit globalization regard culture, population, and environment. The social unit and the impact of globalization: Japan Social unit: Japan Japan has historically been considered a 'closed' nation in relation to the West. As an island, it

Global Business Cultural Analysis
Words: 8186 Length: 25 Document Type: Research Paper

business culture and expansion trends that exist for American companies in India. The paper focuses on answering the following questions: 1. What are the major elements and dimensions of culture in this region? 2. How are these elements and dimensions integrated by local conducting business in the nation? 3. How do both of the above items compare with U.S. culture and business? 4. What are the implications for U.S.

Opportunity Exists for the Company
Words: 12420 Length: 34 Document Type: Dissertation

The business culture of the United Kingdom is characterized by the value of free economy and private property (Rendtorff, 2009). At another level, it is marked by a desire to manage work and life issues. The employees in British organizations have long been marked out for their relatively leisurely pace of work and their priority for relationship issues over work related issues. Compared with their American counterparts, employees in UK

Families in a Global Context
Words: 2653 Length: 10 Document Type: Thesis

At the same time, the Japanese parent will likely encourage the child's freedom, especially in the early stages of life, while the American parent will tend to correct from early stages of development any misbehavior or errors. With the relationship mother-child, the Japanese mother will tend to emphasize less the development of the communication side for the child and will prefer a more symbiotic relationship (Ibid. page 71). 4. A family

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now