•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 "differentiated love" concept does imply a gradation in Confucianism where love is stronger for family and extends outward with lessening intensity.
In Confucianism, love starts from blood relations like filial piety within family. It then extends from family to society, as Mencius said to care for others' elders and children like one's own. Further, it extends to all things in the world.
This extension is significant for maintaining social order and harmony, cultivating good character, and achieving unity between humans and nature.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" may have its own unique connotations, the extension of love in Confucianism is a profound and expansive idea that starts from the family but does not end there. It encompasses all of humanity and even the natural world, reflecting a deep sense of empathy, compassion, and moral responsibility.
Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" aligns with Confucian principles, suggesting that while familial love is of primary importance, the potential for extending that love to a greater community exists, reflecting a moral progression from particular to universal affection. This layered understanding of love encourages individuals to cultivate their personal relationships while also aspiring toward greater societal harmony.
Confucian love has its own unique connotation and extension logic, which emphasizes the foundation of family affection and the extension of love to the world in an orderly manner. Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" provides a sociological perspective and description of such traditional cultural concepts and social relations.
Benevolence" is primarily manifested in varying degrees of love based on blood ties and kinship in traditional concepts. For instance, within family relationships, people often have a deep and naturally close love for their immediate family members. Love for parents may be expressed through filial piety and respect, while love for children takes the form of care and expectations. This type of love is built upon natural blood connections and familial ethical relationships"Differentiated Benevolence" also extends to different social relationships, such as friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Feelings towards close friends differ from those towards casual acquaintances. People may show more genuine concern for their friends and provide more substantial help when they encounter difficulties. This difference also exists among social groups, where individuals may exhibit a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility towards their own communities or organizations.
Confucianism emphasizes that "benevolence and love" is a process that gradually expands from the love of family affection within the family to various levels of society. Confucianism believes that humans are born with a kind of familial love, which originates from the love between mother and son, gradually expanding to love among family members, and further expanding to love among all humans. This process of expanding love embodies the spirit of Confucianism, which is to treat others as if they were one's own family members.
In Confucian thought, "love with distinction" does not imply that love for one's family is stronger while love for others is weaker. Instead, Confucianism stresses benevolence and compassion, viewing familial love as a foundation. This love should be progressively extended to friends, neighbors, and even strangers through the cultivation of personal virtues and adherence to social ethics. The ultimate goal is to create a harmonious society by expanding one's capacity for love step by step.
Confucian thought indeed emphasizes the importance of the family and believes that love for family members should be deeper.This perspective is based on the idea that the family is the fundamental unit of society,and the relationships among family members are the foundation of social order and harmony.However,this does not mean that Confucian thought encourages indifference or neglect towards non-family members.Confucianism also advocates"benevolence",which is a care and compassion for all people,although the degree of this love may vary.
The concept of"benevolence"in Confucianism is a universal moral principle that requires individuals to show empathy and concern when dealing with others.This love is expansive,meaning it should start with the family and then extend to broader social relationships.Confucianism holds that by cultivating love and respect within the family,individuals can learn how to practice these virtues in a wider social context.
Therefore,Confucianism is not about advocating that love for family should be infinitely increased while love for others should gradually decrease.Instead,it emphasizes that love should have a starting point,which is the family,and then gradually extend to other people in society.The expansion of this love is based on respect for the family and the pursuit of social harmony.
This is a misunderstanding of Confucian thought. Confucianism does advocate loving one's family as a starting point, but this does not mean that the love for others is weak or thinning out.
Gradual Expansion of Love
Confucianism believes that the feeling of love begins with filial piety and fraternal love within the family. For example, a person first respects and cares for their parents and siblings. However, this love is like the center of concentric circles, gradually expanding outward. It extends to relatives, friends, neighbors, and then to all people in the society. The so - called "Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, and pacify the world" reflects this expansion.
The Concept of Benevolence
The core of Confucianism is benevolence. Benevolence requires people to have a heart of kindness and love for everyone. Although the way of expressing love may be different due to different relationships, the essence is to promote harmony among people and build a good social order. So, Confucianism does not promote a narrow - minded love that is only limited to the family.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" indeed suggests a hierarchy of affection, with stronger love for one's immediate family and diminishing intensity towards others. However, this does not imply egoism or exclusion but rather an ordered extension of love. In Confucianism, love starts with the family and extends outwards in concentric circles, encompassing society and the state . This extension is not just a moral duty but a continuous process that contributes to moral growth and social harmony .
Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" describes a network of social relations from close to distant, which is not directly equivalent to the Confucian ethics view of love.
In the "differentiated love", love is often first expressed within the family, especially between immediate relatives. As the relationship grows apart, the expression of love diminishes, but it does not mean that it disappears completely.
Confucian ethics takes "benevolence" as the core, and one of the connotations of "benevolence" is "love". Confucianism believes that love should be extended from near to far, from close to distant.
According to Confucianism, love is not limited to the family, but should also extend to the social level. For example, caring for others through "benevolence", helping the weak, maintaining social justice and so on.
Confucianism also emphasizes the "self-to-others" way of thinking, which requires people to extend their love for themselves to love for others. This extension of love is an important manifestation of the thought of "benevolence" in Confucian ethics.
In ancient Chinese thought, differential love was manifested in the concept of "filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty and righteousness." People had different degrees of love and responsibility according to different kinship and social relations. For example, one should show the greatest respect and love to parents and ancestors. This kind of differential love was also reflected in the social hierarchy and ethical norms. It was considered an important part of maintaining social order and family harmony. Although it emphasized differences, it also aimed to build a relatively stable and harmonious social and family structure within a specific cultural and historical context.
Oh, Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" is really interesting! But first, let me clarify that although Fei Xiaotong was influenced by Confucianism, his theory of "differentiated love" is his own interpretation and development, rather than a direct claim by Confucianism.
Now, to answer your question, Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" doesn't necessarily mean that Confucians love their family more and others less. Rather, it emphasizes the hierarchy and order in interpersonal relationships. In Confucianism, love is extended in a way that starts from oneself and expands outwards, prioritizing family relationships before societal ones. This doesn't mean that the love for non-family members is any less significant; it's just that the bonds within the family are considered more fundamental and foundational.
As for the extension of love in Confucianism, I believe it's about cultivating a sense of responsibility and care towards others, starting from one's immediate family and gradually encompassing society at large. It's about learning to respect and understand different perspectives, to seek common ground while reserving differences, and to foster harmony in diverse relationships.
In short, Confucianism encourages us to love and care for others, but also recognizes the natural hierarchy and intimacy in our relationships. We should strive to extend our love and compassion beyond our immediate circle, embracing the broader community and world.
Please note that my understanding may not be exhaustive, and there are many scholars who have studied and interpreted Confucianism in great depth. If you're interested, I suggest diving into the primary texts and secondary sources for a more comprehensive understanding!
"Differentiated benevolence" is a concept that suggests that people tend to show more kindness and generosity towards those who are similar to them in some way, such as sharing the same culture, ethnicity, or social status.
This idea is based on the observation that humans have a natural tendency to form bonds and show preferential treatment to members of their own group, which can lead to discrimination against outsiders. However, it's important to note that not everyone behaves this way, and many people strive to be fair and compassionate towards all individuals, regardless of their background.
In a broader sense, differentiated benevolence can also refer to the idea that people may express their generosity and kindness in different ways, depending on the situation and the recipient. For example, someone might provide financial assistance to a friend in need, while another person might offer emotional support or physical help.
The concept of differentiated benevolence raises important questions about the nature of human compassion and the factors that influence our behavior towards others. It challenges us to consider our own biases and prejudices, and to work towards building a more inclusive and equitable society where kindness and generosity are extended to all members of the community, regardless of their differences.
This view is wrong. Confucian "differentiated love" starts from family love as a base and extends outward in circles, aiming at "universal love", not loving family more and others less.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated benevolence" illustrates Confucianism's view that love starts strongest within the family, gradually weakening as it extends outward. This concept is depicted through concentric circles, with the self at the center and expanding layers representing progressively distant social relationships. In Confucian thought, while love begins at home, it should grow to embrace all people, recognizing the depth of familial bonds while promoting universal benevolence. This extension of love fosters societal harmony by encouraging moral development and responsible behavior in all social roles.
Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" doesn't mean Confucians love others less. Confucian love starts from the family but extends outward. It's like concentric circles, with family at the core. The love is intensive within the family and gradually extends to friends, neighbors, and all people, aiming to achieve harmony in society based on this graduated affection.
In a negative sense, it might refer to a form of partial or selective kindness. That is, showing benevolence or good - will only to a particular group of people, often based on factors such as personal connections, shared interests, ethnicity, social class, etc., rather than applying a universal standard of kindness and care to all individuals.
In a more positive or context - specific interpretation, it could mean adapting the way of showing benevolence according to the different needs of different people. For example, in social work or charity, different forms of help and support are designed according to the specific conditions and requirements of the recipients, such as providing different educational resources for children with different learning abilities, or different medical care programs for patients with different diseases.
Confucianism does emphasize stronger affection for one's own family, with the idea that love diminishes as it extends to others outside the immediate family. This is reflected in the concept of "starting with oneself and extending to others," which advocates for love beginning at home and gradually expanding to the community and the nation.
No, Professor Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" does not imply a stronger love for one's own family with a diminishing love for others. In Confucianism, love extends outward from the family, gradually encompassing a wider circle of people, emphasizing benevolence and compassion for all.
Confucianism promotes benevolence through family ethics. Confucians emphasize the principle of filial piety and fraternal piety, holding that filial piety to parents and respect for older brothers are important bonds to maintain family ethics . Filial piety is not only material support for parents, but more importantly, spiritual comfort and companionship . This kind of harmony and order within the family is maintained by etiquette norms, and family members can reduce conflicts and contradictions by following etiquette, and promote family harmony .
Benevolence in Confucianism is not limited to the family, but gradually extends to the society. Confucianism advocates the social moral system , that is, from caring for one's own family members to caring for the elderly and children in society, forming a universal spirit of benevolence . This kind of thought emphasizes the cultivation of individual moral consciousness and ideological quality in the family, and then promotes individual wisdom and practical ability in social public life .
Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" is a sociological theory that describes the social structure and interpersonal relationships in Chinese society. It reflects the idea that people have different levels of intimacy and obligation depending on their relationship with others, which radiates out from the individual like ripples in water.
In this context, Confucianism does indeed emphasize stronger obligations and affection towards one's immediate family members compared to those outside the family circle. This concept aligns with the Confucian values of filial piety, which stresses respect for one's parents and ancestors, and the importance of maintaining strong family ties. The idea is not so much that love grows thinner as it extends outward, but rather that the nature and expectations of relationships change as one moves further from the core of the family unit.
However, this does not mean that Confucianism promotes an exclusionary form of love. Confucian teachings also encompass broader concepts of benevolence and humaneness, which encourage kindness and consideration for all people. The extension of love in Confucianism can be understood as a layered process:
1. Innermost Circle:Love starts with oneself and then extends to the closest family members.
2. Expanding Circles:From there, it extends to extended family, friends, acquaintances, and community members.
3. Outward Expansion:Finally, it reaches to all humanity, promoting universal love or the ideal of being humane to everyone.
Confucius taught that while one should start by loving and caring for one's family, one should ultimately aim to extend that same care and concern to all of society. Thus, the Confucian notion of love is both particularistic, focusing on specific relationships, and universalistic, aspiring to benefit the whole of humanity.
In Chinese culture, benevolence is a core value. It starts with family, emphasizing respect and care for elders and love for younger members. This familial love extends to society, fostering a harmonious and compassionate community.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" aligns with Confucian thought, indicating that love is indeed stronger towards one’s own family and lessens as it extends to others. In Confucianism, love starts with the family and gradually extends outward, with obligations being more intense towards closer relations. This hierarchy of affection doesn't negate the Confucian ideal of universal benevolence but acknowledges the practical prioritization of family duties. The extension of love in Confucianism is about fulfilling one's roles and responsibilities, beginning with the family and radiating outward, with the understanding that while the depth of love may vary, it should ideally be present in all relationships.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" does not imply that Confucians love their family more and others less. Rather, it refers to a hierarchical approach to love, where closer relationships (such as family) are given more attention and responsibility, while broader social ties are also valued.
In Confucianism, the extension of love starts from the family and gradually expands to society. It emphasizes loyalty to one's family and respect for elders, but also advocates benevolence and righteousness towards others. This love is not limited to kinship but encompasses all humanity, promoting harmony and mutual assistance in society.
Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" is related to but not exactly the same as the Confucian view of love.
1. Confucianism and "Differentiated Love"
Confucianism does emphasize that love starts from one's own family and gradually extends outward, which may seem to imply a stronger love for one's family compared to others. This is because family is considered the most basic and important social unit in Confucian thought. For example, Confucius said that "filial piety is the root of benevolence," highlighting the significance of love and respect within the family.
2. Extension of Love in Confucianism.
However, this does not mean that Confucianism advocates indifference to others. Instead, it promotes the extension of love in an orderly manner. The so-called "extension" is manifested in "loving one's relatives, then loving the people, and finally loving all things". That is to say, after establishing a solid foundation of family love, one should expand this love to society and all things in the world. For instance, Mencius advocated that a gentleman should "be the first to worry about the world's troubles and the last to enjoy its pleasures," showing concern for the well-being of society and the people.
Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differential pattern" resonates with Confucian benevolence in some aspects, but it is not exactly the same. Benevolence in Confucianism is an idealized kind of love, advocating that there is love for all people, but the expression and intensity of love may vary according to close and distant relationships. The "differential pattern" is a realistic description of Chinese social relations, which reveals a behavior pattern of people in actual social communication.
In the eyes of Confucius, a person's love for his father and his love for his son must be different, and a person's love for the monarch and the love for the people are also different. In order to achieve the harmonious society of Confucius, all of this love must be carried out naturally according to the standard according to which it is supposed to be carried out, or at least, even if it cannot be carried out naturally, it must be carried out according to the existing standard by our inner self-regulation or mutual supervision.
Professor Fei Xiaotong’s concept of “differentiated love” does not necessarily suggest that Confucians claim a stronger love toward one’s own family and that love diminishes for others. Instead, it implies a graded or hierarchical approach to love, where familial love serves as the foundation for extending care and concern outward to society at large. In Confucianism, love is understood to radiate from the intimate circle of family to encompass broader social relationships, promoting a harmonious and interconnected community. This extension of love is not a dilution but a natural progression from the micro to the macro level, emphasizing the importance of starting with familial bonds to build a compassionate society.
Fei Xiaotong, a prominent Chinese sociologist, used the concept of "differentiated benevolence" to describe the social structure and interpersonal relationships in traditional Chinese society. This concept is often interpreted as a circle-like model where the individual is at the center, surrounded by concentric circles that represent different levels of social relationships, such as family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.
The idea of "differentiated love" or "benevolence" does indeed suggest that there are varying degrees of affection and obligation towards others based on one's relationship with them. In Confucian thought, the closest relationships, starting with those within the family, are the most important. Love and respect for parents, siblings, and other close relatives are considered paramount. As one moves outward from the family, the strength of this love and the obligations associated with it tend to diminish.
However, this does not mean that Confucianism advocates for a lack of concern for those outside the immediate family. Rather, it suggests that the nature of the relationships changes. The extension of love in Confucianism can be understood through the principle of "universal love" , which complements the concept of differentiated benevolence. Universal love means that while the intensity of love may decrease with distance from the self, the moral responsibility to care for others and to act righteously extends to all people, even if in a more generalized form.
Confucius taught that one should start with oneself and then extend kindness and righteousness to others, gradually reaching outwards. This process is encapsulated in the saying "from the near to the far" . It implies that by cultivating virtue and proper conduct within the family, one sets a foundation for positive interactions in wider society. Therefore, while Confucians might have stronger bonds and deeper love for their own family, they also recognize the importance of extending benevolence and caring to the broader community and beyond, albeit in a manner that acknowledges the natural closeness of familial ties.
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