Rereading Analects 2.3: Law, Rites, and Dignity in Confucius

Analects 2.3 is a key passage in the construal of Confucius' political and legal thought, but readings of it diverge. Many scholars view it as a broader evaluation of the rule of law relative to that of rites, while some read it more specifically as pertaining to the coercive enforcement of mor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhilosophy east & west Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 916 - 936
Main Author Li, Sha
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Honolulu University of Hawai'i Press 01.10.2023
University of Hawaii Press
Subjects
Analysis
Autonomy
Coercion
Conformity
Confucius (551-479 BC)
Confucius (Chinese philosopher)
Criminal investigations
Criminalization
Criticism and interpretation
Dignity
Enforcement
Ethics
Human dignity
Li Zehou
Morality
Philosophers
Reading
Religious aspects
Reported speech
Rites and ceremonies
Ritual
Rituals
Rule of law
China
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Summary:Analects 2.3 is a key passage in the construal of Confucius' political and legal thought, but readings of it diverge. Many scholars view it as a broader evaluation of the rule of law relative to that of rites, while some read it more specifically as pertaining to the coercive enforcement of morality. Some read the quotation as an instrumental, conformist tenet, whereas some perceive its humanistic and ethical nature. Textual and contextual findings show that the latter categories in both cases are the more plausible. This clarification illuminates differences between Confucius' notion of virtue-rites guidance and later variations that may lack respect for moral autonomy.
ISSN:0031-8221
1529-1898
1529-1898
DOI:10.1353/pew.2023.a909970