Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

6-2010

Abstract

Employing the distinction between the authoritarian (based on coercion) and the authoritative (based on excellence), this study of the understanding of authority in the Analects argues against interpretations of Confucianism which cast Confucius himself as advocating authoritarianism. Passages with key notions such as shang 上 and xia 下; fu 服 and cong 從; quan 權 and wei 威, are analyzed to illuminate ideas of hierarchy, obedience, and the nature of authority itself in the text. The evidence pieced together reveals the Master to be authoritative rather than authoritarian; and the social order to which he aspired is one based on excellence rather than on coercion. The article then considers why teachings which present a model of authority as authoritative ended up as often identified with authoritarianism and concludes with some thoughts about how Confucianism might be rescued from authoritarian practice.

Keywords

Authority, Hierarchy, Obedience, Confucian politics, Theory and practice

Discipline

Arts and Humanities

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

Dao

Volume

9

Issue

2

First Page

137

Last Page

149

ISSN

1540-3009

Identifier

10.1007/s11712-010-9157-2

Publisher

Springer Verlag (Germany)

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11712-010-9157-2

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