The Confucian conception of human beings in the pre-Qin period

Abstract

Purpose. This article examines and elucidates the conception of human beings within Confucian philosophy during the pre-Qin period. Its implementation involves: a) to elucidate the fundamental views on human beings expressed within pre-Qin Confucian philosophy; b) undertakes the task of explaining why Confucian philosophers of the pre-Qin period concentrated their intellectual efforts on the study of human beings and social relationships rather than on the nature; c) analyzes both the enduring values and the inherent limitations of Confucian anthropological thought in both historical and contemporary contexts. Theoretical basis. The study employs dialectical and historical materialism as its principal methodological approaches, supplemented by additional analytical and synthetic methods. Originality. It becomes evident that Confucian thinkers offered profound and significant reflections on the origin, nature, role, and social position of human beings. These perspectives not only reveal the philosophical sophistication of the period but also exerted a lasting influence on the subsequent development of Confucian thought. Within the Confucian framework, while it is acknowledged that humans are born under Heaven and that human destiny is influenced by Heaven, Confucianism simultaneously emphasizes the importance of human origins and the veneration of ancestors. Heaven operates according to its own principles, while human society follows its own laws, as reflected in the cyclical patterns of history. Conclusions. The present study has elucidated the Confucian conception of human beings during the Pre-Qin period, highlighting the centrality of humans in philosophical reflection. Confucian thinkers placed human beings at the core of ethical and social considerations, emphasizing the essential role of education and moral cultivation in developing human potential. Humans were conceived not merely as components of the natural order but as active agents in sustaining and advancing social life. The Pre-Qin Confucian framework presents a sophisticated philosophical system in which human beings are regarded as the primary locus of moral and social responsibility. Through education and self-cultivation, individuals are believed to possess the capacity to perfect themselves, thereby contributing to the realization of a harmonious and stable society.