Study On Mencius's Yili Thought In The Perspective Of Political Philosophy

From ancient times to present,the issue of righteousness(Yi)and benefit(Li)has been an important issue affecting behavioral decision-making,especially in political life.Mencius lived in a period of unrest in which all countries fought endlessly and attacked at the same time.At that time,the issue of righteousness and benefit became more prominent.At the same time,the turbulent social reality stimulated the collision of ideas-"Schools of thought contend".All schools of thought criticized and refuted each other,which had an important impact on Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit.Mencius mainly inherited Confucius and the basis of righteousness and benefit in Confucian classics such as " the Great Learning" and "The Doctrine of the Mean",in the background of social reality,exploring various issues which are related to righteousness and interests,He put forward his own unique "righteousness supreme" political philosophy in the "debate between righteousness and benefit".Firstly,this paper analyses the historical background of Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit,and summarizes the theoretical origin of Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit,it means that Mencius developed it on the basis of absorbing and drawing lessons from Confucius' thought of righteousness and benefit and Confucian classics in the pre-Qin period.Secondly,from the etymological point of view,"righteousness" and "benefit",analyze and discuss Mencius' views on "righteousness" and "benefit",and make a summary about Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit.At the same time,it combines with political practice to analyze Mencius' discrimination between righteousness and benefit.Then it analyses Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit from the connotation of political philosophy.Its basic principle is "righteousness is supreme".That is to say,"righteousness" is the supreme principle of political behavior,but it does not deny the pursuit of reasonable and legitimate benefits.From the perspective of political philosophy,the incumbent "takes his place,seeks his administration",safeguards the interests of the common people,runs the unity of "righteousness" and "benefit" through the moral education of the people,and conducts benevolent administration and Kingship to realize the greatness of the world,that is,to realize righteousness.Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit had a far-reaching historical impact on Confucianism of later generations and ancient Chinese thought.As a result,Chinese people formed the moral values of "making profits by righteousness" and "sacrificing life for righteousness",paying attention to the legitimate motivation of behavior.Mencius' thought of righteousness and benefit and his political philosophy are of great value in the political life of contemporary China,the construction of socialist political civilization and international intercourse.