Abstract:

The concept of “constitutive luck” mainly emphasizes the differences in innate tendencies, potentials, and temperaments, that is, the differences in natural endowments and capacities. In Confucianism, fate, nature, emotion and natural endowments actually contain constitutive luck, and these elements have a very significant influence or even a decisive role in people’s wealth, longevity, fame, and fortune. However, Confucianism strictly limits the scope of constitutive luck, excluding it from the moral domain. Confucianism holds that everyone possesses a benevolent heart and good nature, and innate moral tendencies, potentials, and temperaments; moreover, there are no significant difference among people as for as benevolence and goodness is concerned. Therefore, the moral differences among people are related to later acquired actions and deeds rather than innate constitutive luck or natural endowments. In Confucianism, people are responsible for morality, because morality constitutes the essential human nature. This not only means that people should expand their benevolence and goodness and cultivate themselves into morally noble individuals, but also implies taking responsibility for others. In other words, one should attain both self-cultivation and the cultivation of others. If people fail to fulfill their responsibilities or attain self-cultivation and the cultivation of others, they can blame only themselves, not constitutive luck.

Key words: Confucianism, constitutive luck, morality, talent, responsibility