This compilation contains three of the most revered and celebrated texts by the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius. The Analects of Confucius Originally, these sayings and conversations were penned during the Warring States period of Chinese antiquity, which saw great social upheaval between the various realms of the Middle Kingdom. Divided into twenty principle chapters (called books) - the subjects range from wise behaviour in times of crisis to general instruction upon how to live a peaceful life characterised by a serene (...) mood, humility to others, and quality work performed well. The importance of harmonious relations in the family and wider community cooperation are also alluded to, offering an insight into the morals and customs of ancient Chinese life. The politics of the time, which were riddled with violent infighting among noble families and regional dukedoms, attracts attention from Confucius and his contemporaries. In order to vividly illustrate his points, examples and analogies abound and are delivered by Confucius as he engages with several other philosophers and acolytes. The Great Learning One of the classic four books of ancient Confucianism, The Great Learning consists of a short initial commentary attributed to Confucius himself, followed by a lengthier tract written by one of his disciples named Zengzi. The text emphasises achieving balance in everyday life and in thoughts. For the man who aspires to great wisdom, much time must be set aside for rest and contemplation. Life's priorities must be organised according to their importance, and harmony must be rigorously cultivated in everyday associations and relationships. In learning, one must not consider one kind superior to the exclusion of others, but must instead strive for balance. The Doctrine of the Mean Another classic book of Confucian thought, The Doctrine of the Mean is a practical guide for those aspiring to sublime wisdom. It demonstrates how a balanced, harmonious manner of living is the most conducive to joy and satisfaction - once one has embarked on the process of the mean, they may never depart it. Good self-perception, a sincere heart and spirit, and treating others as oneself would like to be treated are the core principles of this text. For many centuries, it was a central pillar of education in China, since it emphasised the social bonds that exist between family members, and the people to the state. ----- The translator James Legge was a Scottish Sinologist who spent much of his adult life in China collecting and translating the various philosophical and literary classics. Since Legge was present in the pre-modern China of the 19th century, where Confucianism held much sway, the authenticity of the tone cannot be doubted. Devoting his talents to accurately rendering Confucian thought for Western consideration, Legge's translations of the Chinese Classics were originally published by Oxford University Press, and remain strongly appreciated for their authenticity to this day. (shrink)

This Source Book is devoted to the purpose of providing such a basis for genuine understanding of Chinese thought (and thereby of Chinese life and culture, ...

Full Chinese text, English translation on same page; editor's, Chinese commentators' annotations; dictionary of Chinese characters at rear. The Second Master in the Confucian tradition, in finest edition.

In this paper I argue that the virtue ethics tradition can enhance the moral discourse on the ethics of prenatal genetic enhancements in distinctive and valuable ways. Virtue ethics prescribes we adopt a much more provisional stance on the issue of the moral permissibility of prenatal genetic enhancements. A stance that places great care on differentiating between the different stakes involved with developing different phenotypes in our children and the different possible means (environmental vs. genetic manipulation) available to parents for (...) pursuing legitimate concerns of parental love and virtue. Key components of the virtue ethics account of morality, such as the Aristotelian account of happiness, love and the doctrine of the mean, provide an adequate basis for rejecting the claim that it is morally impermissible for parents to pursue (safe and effective) prenatal enhancements. Furthermore, there is good reason to believe that a virtue ethics account of morality could actually support the stronger claim that utilising such interventions can (in certain contexts) be morally required. (shrink)

Recent developments in biotechnology and genetic research are raising complex ethical questions concerning the legitimate scope and limits of genetic intervention. As we begin to contemplate the possibility of intervening in the human genome to prevent diseases, we cannot help but feel that the human species might soon be able to take its biological evolution in its own hands. 'Playing God' is the metaphor commonly used for this self-transformation of the species, which, it seems, might soon be within our grasp. (...) In this important new book, Jurgen Habermas - the most influential philosopher and social thinker in Germany today - takes up the question of genetic engineering and its ethical implications and subjects it to careful philosophical scrutiny. His analysis is guided by the view that genetic manipulation is bound up with the identity and self-understanding of the species. We cannot rule out the possibility that knowledge of one's own hereditary factors may prove to be restrictive for the choice of an individual's way of life and may undermine the symmetrical relations between free and equal human beings. In the concluding chapter - which was delivered as a lecture on receiving the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for 2001 - Habermas broadens the discussion to examine the tension between science and religion in the modern world, a tension which exploded, with such tragic violence, on September 11th. (shrink)