Abstract:

While Western ethics emphasizes the strength of a moral agent and denies his or her vulnerability, Confucian ethics emphasizes the vulnerability, which is vividly reflected in Confucius’ answer to Zaiwo’s question of “three years of mourning”. We are vulnerable since we cannot depart our parents’ arms until three years after birth. However, we are vulnerable during our whole lives since we are always plagued by problems such as old age, illness and death. It is precisely because everyone has vulnerability that we have empathy for others’ vulnerability and are willing to take moral responsibility for and help others. In the process of taking responsibility for others, we establish ourselves as strong moral agents. However, such strength does not eliminate vulnerability. With a deep understanding of our own vulnerability, we have empathy for the vulnerability of others, and persevere in the way of morality with our own humanity and kindness constantly stimulated.

Key words: Confucian ethics, three-year mourning, vulnerability