Abstract: Classical Confucianism pays more attention to "desire for humanity" than to "material desire". There are a number of differences between material desire and desire for humanity:the former is material, deficient, egoist, finite and destined, while the latter is moral, sufficient, altruist, infinite and determined by nature. Due to the emphasis on material desire and consequently knowing and utilizing the outside world, a tradition of egocentrism forms in Western philosophy. Although Western metaphysics seeks to transcend reality, reality here mainly means the outside world rather than the self. In contrast, classical Confucianism underscores desire for humanity, that is, benevolence for others. Since the others are in reality, what metaphysics based on desire for humanity attempts to transcend is the self rather than the outside world. In this sense, classical Confucianism creates a metaphysics distinctive from that in the West.

Key words: classical Confucianism, material desire, desire for humanity, metaphysics