Confucian Ethics In "Salt And Iron"

In81BC, a national economic policy debate "Salt and Iron Meeting" was held in the Western Han central government for a series of economic policies implemented during the Emperor Wu, such as salt and iron wine monopoly, stabilization and currency. Confrontation of ideas happened between the government represented by the imperial censor Sang Hongyang and the people from the folk represented by the elite literature."Salt and Iron" was finished20years after the meeting was held. Both sides of the arguments were recorded amply in it. The dialogues form this book and the viewpoints of both sides upon national policy were recorded to convey the ideas from the court and the commonalty and their visions for national governance."Salt and Iron" records the debate between the government and the public. It reflects objectively ideas of the government and the public for policy of gain and loss to the economic, political, military, diplomatic and cultural with spirit of the meeting. It is a very important ancient literature of great significance in political culture and ideology.Confucian ethics in "Salt and Iron", especially economic ethics, was discussed in this thesis. Qin Dynasty to the Western Han Dynasty, the guiding ideology undergone many significant changes, the impact of various ideologies and doctrines more. Any economic activities are included with the ethical relationship, and ethical principles above economic criteria. Qin dynasty draconian laws and the rapid destruction after the Han rulers aroused great attention, Huang-Lao political theory" quietism" of the Western Han Dynasty to become the dominant ideology, but on the other hand thought of implementing it Huanglao there are many difficult issues. Legalism economic ethics are utilitarian nature of thought, Legalism and light weight rule of virtue or even deny the role of morality. Confucian ethics and the reasonable economic justice and profit. Advocates of economic management must abide by etiquette, manners and moral advocated to regulate economic relations between people, in order to achieve a stable and harmonious social life. Meanwhile, the Confucian Economic Ethics promote integrity and honest as the people’s moral demands of Conduct. Confucian ethics in economic discussions in good faith, is to ask people to do "good faith and honest" in the process of economic exchanges, fair trade.Confucian ethics in the relationship between the economy, there are important dialectical relationship "justice" and "profit." How to resolve the relationship between "justice" and "profit", which is directly related to the "View" economic and ethical content of this ideology and nature, but also directly related to people’s daily behavior appropriate or not, right or wrong measure. First, the relationship between people, the Confucian emphasis on "justice" is the call of Lutheran between people that only individuals abandon passed substandard "justice" means "profit" thinking, in order to create a fair and harmonious society. Secondly, from the relationship between man and society, the state, the nation faithfully to the provisions of the Confucian "justice". Meanwhile, Lee is not entirely neglect, but the pursuit of profit-yi Lee, or nothing after righteousness. Like Mencius said, when only emphasized the "justice", the pursuit of "justice" of the state in return we will consciously "profit." So Confucianism advocates "first defined and then Lee" thinking."Salt and Iron" also discussed some other economic ethics, for example, the relationship between ecological ethic and economic ethics. If people pursue high-end consumption and enjoyment immoderately, the basic living for the public would be impaired as well as natural resources wasted and ecological environment destroyed, due to overdevelopment natural resources. For the relations of family and economic ethics among Confucian ethics, it is regarded that the children should be thankful to their parents as filial piety, based on esteem from hearts sincerely; parents should be supported by the children’s work, not abundant but coming from labour income.The practical significances for study Confucian ethics especially economic ethics are as follows. In the past three decades in high-speed, there is conflict between moral rule and values because of the shock for ways of economy development and multi-cultutal environment, which leads to great chaos in economic concept and moral assessment system. Confucian ethics for thousands of years has served as the backbone of traditional Chinese culture, through the vicissitudes of history and the baptism of wind and rain, to a certain extent, the unique heritage of the Chinese people’s wisdom and historical experience, we can learn,"Salt and Iron" in line with the times development of Confucian ethics knowledge and develop into organic components ideological cultures and important content.