Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
4-2016
Abstract
This article challenges the conventional view that Confucianism has no place for the value of equality by shifting the focus from direct justification of equality (Why equality?) to concerns about actual social and political problems (Which inequalities are objectionable?). From this perspective, early Confucian texts endorse some inequalities, in particular those based on virtue, while objecting to others, especially socioeconomic inequalities. Confucians do not consider equality or inequality as inherently valuable, but evaluate them in relation to issues of good government.
Discipline
Philosophy
Research Areas
Humanities
Publication
Philosophy East and West
Volume
66
Issue
2
First Page
488
Last Page
514
ISSN
0031-8221
Identifier
10.1353/pew.2016.0048
Publisher
University of Hawaii Press
Citation
TAN, Sor-hoon.(2016). Why equality? Which inequalities?. Philosophy East and West, 66(2), 488-514.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2606
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1353/pew.2016.0048