Classical Confucianism and Moral Sentimentalism: a New Perspective on Confucian Ethics

Contemporary virtue ethics had developed mainly inthe Aristotelian tradition. Recently, however, a fewnon-Aristotelian forms of virtue ethics have emerged. Among them, the most radical departure from theancient Greek tradition is found in Michael Slote`sagent-based virtue ethics inspired by the eighteenthcentury British moral sentimentalism and thecontemporary feminist ethics of care. In light ofthis new trend, the virtue ethicist RosalindHursthouse has anticipated that although the growinginterest in ancient Chinese ethics currently tends toemphasize its common ground with the ancient Greektradition, as it gains strength, it may wellintroduce a more radical departure. This workexemplifies the more radical departure she rightlypredicates. In this groundbreaking book, the authorargues that there are several key points ofconvergence between classical Confucian ethics andthe ethics of empathic caring in the moralsentimentalist tradition. Scholars or any one who isinterested in Chinese philosophy, comparative ethics, feminist ethics, and Asian studies should find thisbook useful and informative as it provides a newperspective on classical Confucianism.