EthicsLesson 1 of 5 in the course Ethics from Antiquity to the Present

Confucian Ethics: Li, Virtue, Practical Judgment, and Business

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson introduces Confucius and the divided society that shaped his practical ethical teachings. It explains why he called for a return to li and how this idea can help us understand cooperation in organizations today.

Confucius (551–479 BCE), also known as Kung Fu Tzu or Master Kung, lived during the decline of the Zhou Dynasty. Political divisions and conflict helped set the stage for the Period of the Warring States, an era of persistent warfare that continued for two centuries after his death.

All flashcards

Junzi
A refined, humane, and cultured person who develops self-control and balance.
Wholehearted sincerity
A commitment to truth that goes beyond merely appearing sincere.
Five great relationships
Parent–child, husband–wife, elder–junior sibling, master–apprentice, and ruler–subject.
Quan
Practical moral judgment that weighs circumstances and interests to seek a fair response.
Righteousness in business
Fair dealing in transactions, including acting in good faith and fulfilling responsibilities.

Quiz questions

  1. What did Confucius's practical teaching seek to repair amid ancient China's violence and disorder?Answer: Social life, so people could live together amid conflict.
  2. Which description best fits the Confucian ideal of the junzi?Answer: A humane and cultured person who shows self-control and balance.
  3. What does wholehearted sincerity require when a subject advises a ruler?Answer: Speaking truthfully, even when the ruler may dislike the advice.
  4. What does the Confucian Way of humanity suggest people can do to create social order?Answer: Cultivate humane character and contribute to an ordered world.
  5. In Confucian business ethics, what does righteousness become when directed outward toward transactions?Answer: Justice, expressed through good faith and fulfilled responsibilities.

Based on Business Ethics by Stephen M. Byars, Kurt Stanberry (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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