deBuren

China is undergoing a revival of Confucianism, the doctrine of Confucius in which the cultivation of inner virtues such as courtesy, justice, loyalty and altruism is considered to be the foundation of order in the family and society. Confucianism can be interpreted in many ways. In a popular and relatively apolitical form it helps people to cope with the pressures of modern society. The conservative interpretation - as adopted by the government - emphasises loyalty to the state and attempts to strengthen this. The critical interpretation - which could be described as 'left-wing Confucianism' - attempts to strengthen solidarity with the less fortunate. In his lecture Daniel A. Bell will examine the use of left-wing Confucianism in China and reflect on several defensible differences from the social services in the West.

Daniel A. Bell is a lecturer in Ethics and Political Theory at the University of Tsinghua in Peking. He has written books on political ideas in Asia, human rights and the political significance of Confucianism. His latest book, From Marx to Confucius: Politics and Everyday Life in Contemporary China will be published soon.

www.globaljustice.be