Confucian ren and feminist ethics of care : integrating relational self, power, and democracy / Lijun Yuan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Yuan, Lijun, 1951- author.

Contributor:

Alumni and Friends Memorial Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Confucianism.

Feminist ethics.

Caring.

Physical Description:

171 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Lexington Books, [2019]

Summary:

The rehabilitation of Confucian tradition raised new challenges to Chinese feminist thinkers. Can a Confucian ideal of reciprocity help women realize their equality? What is the hope for Chinese women seeking a social ideal of equality given the growing gender gap in the current economic development of China? Yuan argues Confucianism cannot help unless it is integrated with feminism. In this book, Yuan explores why gendered stratifications perpetuated so deeply in today's China through the influences of Confucian cultural tradition, but reading early Confucian texts as a cosmological vision of Ren with Dao and ontological oneness as a whole that is the unity of heaven, earth, and humanism, we might reclaim Confucian egalitarian aspects to develop its openness for gender equity with integration of feminist critical care ethics. Throughout the book, Yuan provides multiple perspectives of comparison: relational self vs. power differentials, gender roles differences vs. political demand for equality, and individual reciprocity vs. connection based reciprocity, etc. to embrace inclusive methodology and caring democracy. We see a great hope to break through stereotypes of binary thinking of Minben (people oriented) and Minzhu (autonomous democracy), gender division of labor, reason and emotion, etc. Yuan argues we should integrate feminist critical thoughts of global justice/care with early Confucianism, since both traditions emphasize caring relationships in humanity and interdependency between social individuals within and beyond their communities in a global scale. Importantly, the integration enlarges our philosophical visions of how cultural traditions can be undeniable sources for strengthening contemporary social ideas of humanity, democracy, equality, and freedom for all.

Contents:

Strength and weakness of early confucian ethics on women

A debate about Minben and Minzhu : toward caring democracy

Feminist critiques of gender inequality and ethics of care

Notions of reciprocity : Kongzi, Kant, Beauvoir, and critiques of gender roles

Methodology of the ethics of care : integrating care and justice

Hume's sympathy, Mengzi's empathy, feminist interpretations : extensive virtue

China's population policy : aging, gender, and sustainability.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Alumni and Friends Memorial Book Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Yuan, Lijun, 1951- author. Confucian ren and feminist ethics of care

ISBN:

9781498558181

1498558186

OCLC:

1050955766