Reconsidering Ren as Virtue and Benevolence
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23201981 |
|---|---|
| Authors | George Rudebusch (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 3-4 |
| Pages | 456-471 |
| Publication date | 2013-03-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Chinese Philosophy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0301-8121 • E-ISSN: 1540-6253 |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1163/15406253-0400304008 |
| OpenAlex | W4253251802 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
One reason why Confucius is preeminent among Chinese philosophers is his teaching about ren . Interpreters have said many different things about ren , yet two basic assumptions are pervasive: that ren is a virtue and that ren is benevolence. I argue that it is more respectful to the text of the Analects to discard both assumptions. Instead of virtue, ren is a priority in one’s motives. Instead of benevolence, ren is humane courtesy.
Courtesy · Epistemology · Interpreter · Linguistics · Sociology · Virtue · Chinese history and philosophy · Computer Science · Philosophy
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |