Flexibility and Moral Cultivation in the <i>Analects</i> of Confucius
Flexibility, or acting in line with the needs of the situation rather than strictly adhering to prefigured rules and principles, has long been seen as a primary feature of early Confucian ethics as articulated in the <i>Analects</i> of Confucius. This paper develops an understanding of f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/4/441 |
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| Summary: | Flexibility, or acting in line with the needs of the situation rather than strictly adhering to prefigured rules and principles, has long been seen as a primary feature of early Confucian ethics as articulated in the <i>Analects</i> of Confucius. This paper develops an understanding of flexibility in the <i>Analects</i> through a close reading of two passages, 18.8 and 17.4. The goal is to both add nuance to standard readings of flexibility in the text and contribute to contemporary discourse, where consideration of moral flexibility is lacking. I show that while flexibility in the <i>Analects</i> is presented as an exemplary ethical approach, it requires a high level of moral cultivation, making it inaccessible to many. For those incapable of a flexible approach, a rigid approach that strictly adheres to rules and principles provides a means of both proper conduct and further ethical development. The <i>Analects</i> thus offers a fairly nuanced consideration of the notion of flexibility and the role of moral cultivation that can enliven contemporary ethical discourse. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-1444 |