The Idea of Human Dignityin Classical Chinese Philosophy: A Reconstruction of Confucianism Ⅰ-法搜-中国法律信息搜索网

　In this paper I seek to clarify the concept of human dignity by introducing the contribution of classical Confucianism to this subject.As I indicate in the title, however, it is a reformulation of the Confucian view, for the concept of human dignity was neither explicitly mentioned in classical Confucian text nor systematically explained by traditional interpretations.I nevertheless argue that it is the most adequate concept for understanding and interpreting Confucianism, which discovered the dignity of man in the innate virtues (De) unique to mankind by which every man and woman is enabled to live a morally decent and materially self-sufficient life.The paper is divided roughly into two parts.After a brief review of the conceptual development in the West, I explain, primarily in the words of Confucius and Mencius, the meaning of human dignity as exemplified by a Confucian gentleman.
　　　　 Next, I shall discuss the connection between the Confucian concept of dignity and the western concepts of rights and duties.Conceding that Confucianism failed to espouse the modern ideas of democracy and liberty, as some might contend,
　　　　 I argue that the idea of human dignity, which is firmly rooted in Confucianism, does contain the potential of receiving new interpretations that can bring about basic compatibility between the Chinese cultural tradition and the prevailing western notion of liberal democracy.While human dignity implies a universal demand for its protection and respect, and thus is primarily a duty-oriented concept, the universal duty imposed on the state and society does confer definable rights to the individual.I argue, indeed, that compared to the Hobbesian theory of natural right, on which the western liberal tradition is founded, the Confucian concept of human dignity can accommodate a more balanced and consistent view of rights and duty.
　2.The Concept of Human Dignity in the West: An Overview
　Like the notion of individual rights, human dignity is surely a western concept.But in the prevalent rights-oriented ethical discussions today,
　　　　 “human dignity” is not among the terms that are often talked about.And in those academic works that do mention the phrase (even in their titles), it is often left undefined and is used to express moral convictions the authors take for granted to be self-evident.
　　　　 Yet, of course, the concept of human dignity is anything but self-evident.Having comprehensively surveyed the conceptual development in the history of western philosophy, Spiegelberg finds it compelling to conclude that the meaning of “human dignity” remains vague and inconsistent, and the clarification of the concept still poses a “genuine challenge” to contemporary philosophers.
　　　　 To facilitate comparison with the Confucian idea of human dignity discussed below, I provide here a brief account of the conceptual development in the West.
　　　　
　Since the Greek philosophers, the concept of human dignity has evolved in the entwined development of two traditions in the West: secular and religious.From the beginning human dignity was implicitly associated with freedom and reason.In the Platonic anatomy of the soul, reason is the best and the highest part; it is the divine substance, the partaking of which elevates the soul and makes it immortal.For Aristotle, men are dignified in virtue of reason because it brings order to their individual and social lives.