The Ethics of Confucius

Kǒng Fūzǐ, or Kung-fu-tse (latinized into Confucius in the late 16th century by the early Jesuit missionaries) was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who is traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Born around 550 B.C., he descended from one of the many royal families which had figured in the past as rulers of tribes or provinces of ancient China. Confucius’s teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining influential across China and East Asia to this day. His philosophical teachings, called Confucianism, emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice, kindness, and sincerity. But what was the most authentic ethical meaning of his teachings and philosophy? How much did his message contribute to the creation of Chinese culture? The great American journalist Warren Gilbert Benton (1850-1931), with his essay The Ethics of Confucius, attempted to answer these questions.