A Study On The Comparison Of Bentham And Huang Zongxi Economic Ethics Thoughts

Economic Ethics is a highly debating topic of academic research in China now.This thesis, running through the integrate content with the comparison between thefounder of Western Utilitarianism Jeremy Bentham in British and the EarlyEnlightenment thinkers Huang Zongxi in China, is to compare Chinese EconomicEthics with Western’s one. It just begins with the utilitarian ideology of the twothinkers as the core, the history and historical materials as the foundation, thecomparison of their economic ethics ideologies and historical purposes as the maincontent, the implications for the construction of the Socialist Market Economic Ethicsas the purpose. Then it provides the theoretical research and the construction of theChinese Socialist Market Economic Ethics with the positive information andreference by revealing the differences of ideology that completely illustrates theiropposite destinies under the different backgrounds and analyzing their historicalvalues and limitations.Specifically, the main contents of this thesis are as follows:1. The introductionwill sketch out the researching status of this thesis both at home and abroad andthe significance, methods, ideas of the study.2. Chapter one is going to respectivelyexplore the differences of the two philosophers’ ideologies from three aspectsconcerning the political environment, the economic social condition, and theideological trend.3. Chapter two is going to analyze Bentham’s ideological historyand elaborate the main content of utilitarian ideology, which will discuss in turn aboutthe themes laid a basis on the theory of human nature, such as the basis for thehedonism, the utilitarian principle, the evaluating criteria of ethical behavior, thesanction method of behavior.4. Chapter three intends to figure out Huang Zongxi’sideological history and elaborate the main content of utilitarian ideology, which willdiscuss separately about the theory of the “Mind and Human Nature One”, the view of“Justice and Benefit One”, the standpoint of Profit-based Industry and Commercewith a basis on the view to benevolence and benefits.5. Chapter four inclines toanalyze and compare the differences and similarities between Bentham and HuangZongxi’s economic ethics ideology, elaborating the similarities of the two’sself-interest theory and the standard of moral evaluation, the differences of the theoryof human nature essence, the connotation of utility, and the way of making fortune.6. Chapter five goes to make an analysis and evaluation on the historical value and therealistic meaning of Jeremy Bentham and Huang Zongxi’s economic ethics ideology.Describing the limitations of their two kinds of economic ethics ideologies andapproving the beneficial elements of their thoughts, it brings forward a revelation forthe theoretical research and construction of Chinese Socialist Market EconomicEthics.