Research On Xunzi's Responsibility Ethic

Responsibility ethics is an important issue in the field of Confucianism and ethics.Looking back on the history of the development of Confucian responsibility ethics,Xunzi’s thought of responsibility ethics did not come into being without reason,but inherited and developed from predecessors under a certain background of The Times.During the Warring States Period,the society was undergoing drastic changes.Xunzi’s practical activities under this background were bound to be influenced by the political reality at that time,thus bursting out a strong sense of crisis.He absorbed the rich achievements of "contention of a hundred schools of thought",drew nourishment from the leap of humanistic spirit in the early Zhou Dynasty and the popular ritual culture in the Spring and Autumn period,and borrowed the development of responsibility ethics from Confucius and Mencius to help establish his responsibility ethics thought.How can Xunzi’s responsibility ethics be established? What is the basis of his argument?Most scholars regard the Confucian view of heaven and man as the logical origin of the study of Confucian ethics of responsibility.Xunzi proposed the view of nature of "the division of heaven and man",which dispelled the possibility of shifting responsibility to the external destiny of heaven.The theory of "the difference between heaven and man" turns the subject’s eyes from "heaven" to man himself and focuses on the responsibility requirements of man himself.In addition,his ideological system contains a sense of awe,emphasizing that on the basis of promoting individual independence,he should assume the responsibility for the community and pursue the harmony of the universe as a whole.Finally,Xunzi looked at human nature from the standpoint of experience,emphasizing that human nature is not good,and responsibility is generated by acquired behavior.Therefore,he advocated encouraging people to learn and change their nature,leading the subject to turn from evil to good,and striving to take responsibility to open up the way for the subject to actively fulfill responsibility.The exploration of Xunzi’s ethic of responsibility is not limited to exploring the thought of responsibility in his theory and conducting ethical research on his ethic of responsibility,but to consider it as a dynamic process.It is to explain the sense of responsibility and the play of subjectivity around the logical relationship of "Qun-Li-Xue-Cheng".First of all,the first level of Xunzi’s ethical thought of responsibility lies in the solution of the problem of why people need to bear ethical responsibility.Xunzi not only affirmed the independence and initiative of human being as an individual,but also pointed out that it is composed of people and groups;It also pays attention to the social attributes of human beings,and makes harmony by Qun.Only in groups can human beings better play their abilities and be competent for the social responsibility of transforming nature.Through clear division and grouping,social subjects are endowed with corresponding missions,and the bridge of communication between boundaries and responsibilities,so as to realize human existence and development.Secondly,how to determine the ethical responsibility that people need to bear? The solution of this problem depends on Xunzi’s "Li" theory.Taking benevolence and righteousness as the core,“Li” not only avoids completely falling into the trap of utilitarianism,but also lays an internal moral foundation,which can exist as a value rather than a tool or means to ensure that the "Li" determining ethical responsibility is fair and just.Thirdly,how to realize the responsibility ethics? This requires the subject to develop learning ability,to understand and abide by the norms,and then from passive responsibility to active responsibility.According to Xunzi’s logical approach,the subject should first clearly grasp its own responsibility and have the corresponding cognitive ability.Secondly,to carry out action and practice,action is higher than knowledge,do not escape responsibility.Finally,with the help of the external "teacher of laws,Li and Yue" time,to educate the subject to set up the moral law in the heart.Forthly,Xunzi’s thought of responsibility ethics also has an implicit internal requirement--"Cheng".The gentleman will be honest and work hard in the internal aspects,so as to achieve the mental state of conscious responsibility.This is the inner requirement and target realm of Xunzi’s responsibility ethics.Reflecting on Xunzi’s thought of responsibility ethics,we can find the contemporary defects and enlightenment,and then extract the contemporary value of traditional culture,so it can be connected with the reality.Xunzi’s construction mode of responsibility ethics contains reasonable thinking mode.For example,the attention to the overall spirit and the cultivation of ideal personality,as well as the affirmation of people’s basic desires and other thoughts,all of these can provide guidance to human value judgment and choice,and promote the casting of the character of bearing social responsibility actively.Of course,due to the limitations of different times,there are certain limitations in the application of his thought of responsibility ethics in contemporary society.We should adopt a scientific attitude and treat them dialectically.