•Does professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" suggest that Confucians claim a stronger love toward one’s own family, while the love grows thinner to others? How do you understand the extension of love in Confucianism?
Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" in the context of Confucianism is often misinterpreted as a simple gradation where love for one's own family is stronger and thins out for others.
In fact, "Differentiated Love" in Confucianism includes Initial Focus on Family as a Foundation, Extension of Love andUniversal Love in Confucianism.
Confucianism's view of love is a dynamic and expanding concept. The family - centered love is the origin, but it is meant to be extended to all of humanity, not a diminishing form of love as misconstrued by some.
The extension of love in Confucianism is not arbitrary; it follows a moral order. One should first show filial piety to one’s parents and respect to one’s elder brothers, then extend love and care to other family members, and eventually to everyone else in the world. This process is in line with the Confucian emphasis on the importance of family as the fundamental wellspring of love, where children can practice love and learn the lessons of ren applicable to nonfamilial relations in later years.
Fei Xiaotong, in his social theory, also emphasized the emotional dimension of this graded love. He believed that China’s modernization should incorporate Western modern technology into traditional Chinese social organizations, promoting an effective transition from tradition to modernity, which is not only related to the basis of traditional social organizations but also inseparable from its emotional aspect. He reinterpreted “love for hometown” as the emotional foundation of modern Chinese society, suggesting that this love, with its regional and local moral sentiments, can play a positive role in the formation of love for the nation.
In summary, the Confucian concept of love, including Fei Xiaotong’s interpretation, is not about diminishing love for others outside the family but about an ordered extension of love that begins at home and radiates outward, encompassing all of society and ultimately the world. This extension is guided by the principles of ren and li，which emphasize appropriate conduct and relationships within a moral framework.
The Confucian idea of "unequal love" does not mean that the love for family is stronger and the love for others is weaker. The Confucian emphasis on "unequal love" means that there are differences in the degree and scope of love, but it does not mean that love for one's family is stronger than love for others. The "benevolence" advocated by Confucianism starts with "qinqin" (love for one's relatives), gradually extends oneself to others, and finally reaches "universal love" (love for all people broadly).
The concrete manifestation of Confucian "love is inferior" is the practice process of "affinity - benevolence - love of things". The first is "Qinqin" (love for one's relatives), then "Renmin" (love for ordinary people), and finally "Aiwu" (love for nature) . This process of promoting love to others reflects the gradual expansion and deepening of Confucian ethics and morals.
I contend that the differentiated love can be interperated that love starts close to further. We love our family and friends first, and then extend that love to our community, our country, and people further away. This is not selfish. Looking back at major historical events, when a nation was facing a crisis, people from all walks of life came together to defend the country and protect "strangers".
Confucianism indeed emphasizes the importance of family love as the foundation, believing that people first have deep affection for their relatives, which is a natural and fundamental emotion. However, this does not mean that they have less love for others.
Confucianism advocates that based on the love for family members, one should gradually expand this love to others in society, showing care and respect for friends, neighbors, and even strangers, and fulfilling social responsibilities through actions such as helping the poor and weak.
Confucianism advocates that "benevolent people love others", but the "love for others" advocated by Confucianism is not equal fraternity, but inferior love, which Mencius summarized as the practical process of "kissing, benevolence, and loving things".
First of all, "filial piety" as the core of "kissing" is the first step of love, which is the most normal human emotion, so the process of "loving others" is to first treat their own old people, and then push themselves and others to other people's old people, love their own children and then push themselves and others to other people's children, and then to achieve the theory of sexual goodness, gentleman-style moral care of "benevolence - love things", which is a perfect, self-pushing and people's emotional giving process. Equality and fraternity are difficult for the vast majority of people to achieve, which is also the theoretical basis of the Confucian concept of "filial piety".
Fei Xiaotong's "Differential Intimacy" model, aligned with Confucian values, outlines how love and duty intensify within the family and taper off outwardly. Yet, it underscores universal kindness and respect, advocating a harmonious society with familial devotion at its heart while promoting ethical treatment of all, encapsulating Confucian 'Ren'. Despite prioritizing kin, it encourages compassion across societal layers, blending familial loyalty with broad benevolence.
The object of Confucian's love is the general public, but to relative, pro as the priority, he will start from the blood family, from close and distant, from near to far, gradually expand the love summed up as "intimate", "benevolence" and "love things" three levels.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of"differentiated love"does not necessarily suggest that Confucians claim a stronger love toward one's own family while the love grows thinner to others.Instead,it reflects the Confucian idea that love can be extended in a structured and ordered manner from the family to society at large.Confucianism emphasizes the importance of starting with familial love and then expanding that love to encompass others in society.This concept is rooted in the idea of"ren"(仁),which is often translated as benevolence or humaneness,and is considered the highest moral value in Confucianism。
Fei Xiaotong,influenced by Durkheim,Malinowski,and neo-Confucian thoughts,believed that China's modernization should integrate Western modern technology with traditional Chinese social organizations,including the emotional aspect of"love for hometown"and"feelings of kinship"。He suggested that modernization should begin by reinforcing"feelings of kinship"within the family and then extend the role of"local village-town community"and"love for hometown"beyond the family。This implies that while familial love is a starting point,it is not the endpoint;the ultimate goal is to extend this love to the broader community and nation.
In Confucianism,the extension of love is not a dilution but a structured expansion.Mencius,a Confucian philosopher,proposed that a person of virtue should love and care for their loved ones first,then other people,and finally everything on earth。This indicates that Confucian love is not limited to the family but is intended to be extended in an orderly fashion to include all of society.
The Confucian concept of"ren"involves a graded application of love,starting with filial piety and expanding to include respect for elders and tenderness for the young in other families。This idea of"love with distinction"does not imply egoism centered on one's family but rather an ordered application of love that varies according to one's relationship。The Confucian self is seen as an open system at the center of a series of concentric circles,with the outer rim never closing,suggesting that the extension of love and moral relationships is continuous and expansive。
In summary,Fei Xiaotong's concept of"differentiated love"aligns with the Confucian view of extending love from the family to society,emphasizing an ordered and structured expansion of benevolence rather than a diminishing of love for those outside the immediate family.
Confucianism advocates "differentiated love" (Ren in different degrees). It emphasizes that people should have a natural and deep affection for their family members first. For example, the close bond between parents and children and among siblings is the foundation of human relationships.
However, it doesn't mean that the love just stops at the family. Confucianism also promotes the concept of "extending love." That is, starting from loving one's family, one should expand this love and care to neighbors, society, and even all people under the heaven. The ultimate goal is to achieve a harmonious social order and a state of universal benevolence. It's a hierarchical but also expansive concept of love aiming at both the stability of the family and the well - being of society as a whole.
We can understand the extension of love in Confucianism from many aspects. First of all, the extension from the inside of the family to the outside of the society is one of the important characteristics of Confucian love. Confucianism believes that family is the basic unit of society. After cultivating a kind heart through filial piety within the family, people should extend this kind of love to the social field outside the family. Secondly, the extension from individual to group is also an important manifestation of Confucian love. Confucianism emphasizes the responsibilities and obligations of individuals in groups, and believes that everyone should care for and help others with their own benevolence, so as to realize the harmony and progress of the whole society.
Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" doesn't mean Confucians love others less. In Confucianism, love starts from family as a base. But through concepts like the Golden Rule and "care for others' elders and children as one's own", love extends from family to society and nature, aiming for a harmonious whole.
Yes, Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" does imply that in Confucianism, love is strongest towards one’s immediate family and diminishes as it extends to others. The extension of love in Confucianism is hierarchical and based on social roles and relationships, starting from the family and radiating outward to the community and society at large.
Extension of love means to love people extensively, which is the embodiment of Confucian benevolence. Confucianism believes that all people have compassion, should put oneself into others, and care for others extensively, regardless of friends and acquaintances. This kind of love is not only the continuation of blood and family ties, but also a universal concern for everything in the world that transcends individual limitations. Confucian universal love is a noble emotional and moral pursuit, which requires us to care extensively for others in our daily lives, respect the value and dignity of others, and actively seek to interact with and learn from people with benevolence and virtue. Such an attitude and pursuit of life not only contribute to personal growth and development, but also contribute to social harmony and progress.
This view is a misunderstanding. In Confucianism, the concept of “differentiated love” emphasizes that love starts from the family as a center and then extends outward in concentric circles. It's a step - by - step expansion of care and moral responsibility, aiming to achieve an all - encompassing benevolence through such a hierarchical but connected structure of affection.
Differential love is the love that emphasizes self and others, the love that expands from one's own small home to the world, and it is also a kind of broad love to some extent
Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" concept does seem to imply that in Confucianism, love starts strong within the family. Confucians do place great importance on family - centered love like filial piety. But it doesn't mean love for others is thin. Confucianism advocates the extension of love. Love is like ripples in a pond, starting from family and gradually expanding to neighbors, society, and the world. Through self - cultivation and the pursuit of "ren" (humaneness), the love within the family serves as a foundation from which a broader love for all can grow and spread, rather than being a form of exclusive love that diminishes for those outside the family.
"Benevolence" in Confucian thought is not limited to blood love within the family, but can be extended to a wider social group. Confucius' emphasis on "universal love for all" and "heaven for all" shows that Confucian benevolence is a universal love, not limited to family or blood ties.
The "love" advocated by Confucianism is not equal universal love, but differential love, which Mencius summarized as the practice process of "affinity - benevolence - love of things" . First of all, the "kiss" with "filial piety" as the core is the first step of poor love, and then it can realize the "benevolence of the people -- love of things" with the theory of good nature and the gentleman's moral concern. This is a perfect emotional giving process .
I don't think it is right. Confucians claim a strong love and equal lovr for both familu and country. There is no difference. Just study and begin the love with our family and then spred the love to other things. It is just equal, instead of becoming thinner,
Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" indeed reflects a pattern where relationships and obligations are understood in terms of concentric circles emanating from the self. In this model, one's closest family members occupy the innermost circle, with layers of extended family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers occupying progressively more distant circles. According to Fei, this social structure implies that people have stronger obligations and emotional ties to those who are closer to them in these circles.
In Confucian thought, the extension of love is described through the concept of "benevolence" , which can be translated as benevolence or humaneness. Confucianism emphasizes the cultivation of virtue within oneself, starting with filial piety towards one's parents and respect for elders, which then extends outward. The idea is not necessarily that love grows thinner as it moves outward, but rather that the expression of love and the nature of one's responsibilities change depending on the relationship.
In the differential pattern, social relations are gradually pushed out as self-centered, like ripples on the water surface, spreading out one circle after another, which really reflects the Confucian thought that there are different degrees of love for people with different relationships. Confucianism believes that the love for family members is stronger, and the degree of love will gradually weaken as the relationship is estranged, but this does not mean that the love for others is very thin, but relatively close and distant.
No, it doesn't. The extension of love in Confucianism are family as the foundation, gradual extension of love, hierarchical relationships and social harmony. Therefore, while Confucianism does emphasize the importance of family relationships, it also advocates the extension of love and compassion towards others in society. This is reflected in the Confucian emphasis on universal love, hierarchical relationships based on mutual respect, and the pursuit of social harmony.
Yes, Fei Xiaotong’s concept of “differentiated love” aligns with Confucian values, emphasizing that love radiates outward from one’s family, becoming less intense as it extends to others. Confucianism does not advocate equal love for all but rather a graded or hierarchical love that starts with filial piety and broadens to encompass society, reflecting practical moral responsibilities. This “extension of love” seeks harmony by balancing familial loyalty with social duties, rather than diluting love universally.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of"differentiated love"indeed suggests a hierarchy of affections,with stronger love directed towards one's immediate family,and this love diminishing as the social distance from the individual increases.This concept aligns with Confucian thought,which places a strong emphasis on familial love and the importance of social relationships structured around familial ties.
In Confucianism,the love and care for others begin with the family and extend outward in a graded manner.This is encapsulated in the concept of"ren"(仁),which is often translated as benevolence or humaneness."Ren"is the foundation of moral behavior and is characterized by a compassionate heart that starts with filial piety towards one's parents and respect for one's elder siblings,then extends to other family members,and ultimately to all people.
The extension of love in Confucianism is not arbitrary but follows a certain order.It begins with the family and gradually extends to encompass society at large.This is seen in the Confucian emphasis on filial piety and the Five Relationships,which are the fundamental social relationships that should be governed by specific virtues。Confucius himself stated that the honest men of his country would cover up for their sons and fathers,indicating that family loyalty sometimes takes precedence over conventional morality。
Fei Xiaotong’s concept of differentiated love encapsulates a fundamental aspect of Confucian ethics, wherein the love we express begins with family and extends outward in a hierarchy of relational duty and responsibility. In this way, Confucianism not only prioritizes intimate, familial bonds but also provides a framework for extending care and building harmonious relationships within society.In Confucian philosophy, the family is the fundamental unit of society. The relationship between family members, particularly between parents and children, is often regarded as the most sacred and significant. This idea of “differentiated love” aligns with the Confucian concept of “xiao” (孝), or filial piety, which emphasizes a child’s duty to love and respect their parents. This hierarchical structure of love implies that one has a greater obligation toward family than towards others.While Confucianism emphasizes the priority of familial love, it also recognizes an extension of love outward. This can be envisioned through the concept of “ren” (仁), often translated as “benevolence” or “humaneness.” Ren encourages individuals to cultivate empathy and compassion. While the strength of love diminishes as one extends beyond immediate family, Confucians do advocate for a gradual expansion of love. For example, one is encouraged to extend loving feelings toward friends, and then to the community and society at large.The idea of differentiated love is also tied to the Confucian vision of social harmony. By promoting love that begins within the family and naturally extends outward, Confucian thought holds that societal stability and harmony can be achieved. Strong families are seen as the bedrock of a healthy society, where ethical conduct and mutual respect can flourish.
Confucius's love is pan-love, and this kind of love is actually different, but its difference is a class and hierarchical difference, not a quantitative difference.
Confucius emphasized benevolence, which refers to being kind to others and respecting others, not the kind of love that has distant and close relatives.
In Confucian thought, this concept fits well with the idea that familial love is often seen as stronger or more central than love for others outside the family.
This structure of love reflects a broader ethical framework in Confucianism, where relationships are carefully moderated to create harmony and order in society. Thus, while love may indeed be "thinner" in broader contexts, it remains deeply connected to the cultivation of virtue and the proper conduct of interpersonal relationships.
Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" in the context of Confucianism does not simply mean that the love for one's own family is "stronger" in a self - centered way and thinner to others in a derogatory sense.
In Confucianism, the idea of love starting from the family is a natural and fundamental starting point. For example, one naturally has a deep affection for one's parents.This is based on the close blood and family relationships that are the most immediate and tangible in people's lives.
The love within the family is the root. This is not exclusive but rather the origin.The love then extends outward in concentric circles. One can show respect and care to neighbors, friends, and then to the broader community. At an even broader level, there is also the idea of having a sense of harmony and care for all things in the universe.
So,Confucian "differentiated love" is a complex and multi - level concept that emphasizes the origin of love in the family and its continuous expansion to the wider world, aiming at the overall harmony of the individual, society, and the universe.
Confucians think extended love is a behavior of universal love .Love begins with our family and individual relationships, then expands into our friends,relatives and others people. It doesn't mean love outside our family is not important and necessary.On the contrary, it means that we should put love in our family at the first place.
I don't agree with that. Love from oneself to others is different, and this is reasonable. First of all, benevolence is a combination of emotion and reason. To love one's family is to obey humanity. It is rational to love others differently from family. Secondly, love family is the premise of love others, a house does not sweep, how can sweep the world.
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