This volume presents the fruits of an extended dialogue among American and Chinese philosophers concerning the relations between virtue ethics and the Confucian tradition. Based on recent advances in English-language scholarship on and translation of Confucian philosophy, the book demonstrates that cross-tradition stimulus, challenge, and learning are now eminently possible. Anyone interested in the role of virtue in contemporary moral philosophy, in Chinese thought, or in the future possibilities for cross-tradition philosophizing will find much to engage with in the twenty essays collected here.
Part One: Debating the Scope and Applicability of Virtue and Virtue Ethics 1.1 Chen Lai Virtue Ethics and Confucian Ethics 1.2 Philip J. Ivanhoe Virtue Ethics and the Chinese Confucian Tradition 1.3 Lee Ming-huei Confucianism, Kant, and Virtue Ethics 1.4 Bryan Van Norden Toward a Synthesis of Confucianism and Aristotelianism 1.5 Liu Liangjian Virtue Ethics and Confucianism: A Methdological Reflection 1.6 Wong Wai-ying Confucian Ethics and Virtue Ethics Revisited Part Two: Happiness, Luck, and Ultimate Goals 2.7 Michael Slote The Impossibility of Perfection 2.8 Matthew Walker Structured Inclusivism about Human Flourishing: A Mengzian Formulation 2.9 Benjamin Huff The Target of Life in Aristotle and Wang Yangming 2.10 Sean Walsh Varieties of Moral Luck in Ethical and Political Philosophy for Confucius and Aristotle Part Three: Practicality, Justification, and Action Guidance 3.11 Yu Jiyuan The Practicality of Ancient Virtue Ethics: Greece and China 3.12 Lo Ping-cheung How Virtues Provide Action Guidance – Confucian Military Virtues At Work 3.13 Xiao Yang Rationality and Virtue in the Mencius 3.14 Huang Yong Between Generalism and Particularism: The Cheng Brothers’ Neo-Confucian Virtue Ethics Part Four: Moral Psychology and Particular Virtues 3.15 Sarah Rushing What is Confucian Humility? 3.16 Angle, Stephen Is Conscientiousness a Virtue? Confucian Answers 3.17 Kai Marchal The Virtues of Justice in Zhu Xi 19. Andrew Terjesen Is Empathy the "One Thread" Running Through Confucianism? 20. Marion Hourdequin The Limits of Empathy
Biography
Stephen Angle is Professor of Philosophy at Wesleyan University
Michael Slote is Michael Slote is UST Professor of Ethics at the University of Miami
"This is a terrific book. An exemplary example of what Angle calls 'rooted global philosophy.' There are American authors and Chinese authors. Virtue theory is important. The book will be widely read by ethicists and comparative philosophers."
Owen Flanagan Jr., Duke University
“This volume’s 20 essays aim to show readers that new forms of comparative philosophy are possible…[T]his volume not only makes claims for but also forthrightly demonstrates what Angle has called “living philosophy” ('still evolving' philosophy).”
J.M. Boyle, emerita, Dowling College in Choice
"The volume marks a substantial contribution to the virtue theoretical approach to Confucianism; the range of topics is impressive, as are the range of thinkers discussed . . . . The volume should . . . be an important part of the conversation moving forward."
Hagop Sarkissian, The City University of New York, Baruch College, in Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews
"This is a terrific book. An exemplary example of what Angle calls 'rooted global philosophy.' There are American authors and Chinese authors. Virtue theory is important. The book will be widely read by ethicists and comparative philosophers."
Owen Flanagan Jr., Duke University
"Virtue Ethics and Confucianism has no doubt made Confucian tradition accessible to contemporary Western readers and enriched the contemporary discussion of virtue ethics as well as that of Confucianism."
Ethics
