The Early Confucian Philosophy of Agency: Virtuous Conduct [Hardcover]

Henrique Schneider argues that understanding the three Early Confucian thinkersConfucius, Mencius, and Xunzias virtue-ethicists, political philosophers, or social conservatives proves too narrow. Championing a broader and more philosophical reading,The Early Confucian Philosophy of Agency: Virtuous Conductsheds new light on a well-established topic. Virtuous conductaligning actions and motivations with virtues, social roles, and ritualsis the philosophy of agency of Early Confucianism. Confucius, Mencius, and Xunzi share a common philosophy of agency, which does more than describe agents and acts: it also represents a progressive social and political program. Schneider characterizes Early Confucianism as a progressive philosophy due to its human-centered program for social reform, its process view of self-cultivation, and its development. Agents who cultivate themselves can produce virtuous conduct, flourish, and become Junzi. This lets them lead each other in self-cultivation, social environment, and polity. As such, virtuous conduct integrates ethics, social and political philosophy in a theory of action.Henrique Schneideris associate of the Center for Chinese Studies in Switzerland and of the Geopolitical Information Services in Liechtenstein.

While not denying or ignoring their differences, Henrique Schneider argues that the philosophies of Kongzi, Mengzi, and Xunzi present a family resemblance promoting a synthetic philosophy centrally concerned with personal, social, and political agency. This conception of agency is analyzed in terms of virtues, roles, and rituals, linking agents with various types of conduct aimed at cultivating human nature and producing individual and collective flourishing. At the center of his account is a description of an ideal agent, the Junzi, a self-interested, righteous, self-cultivating leader of familial, social, and political affairs who not only represents a personal ideal but an inspiring, socially efficl3,