Four Keywords of Mencius'Political Thought and Their Theoretical Problems
This article tackles four keywords in Mencius'political philosophy,namely,(a)people-based govern-ment,(b)humane governance,(c)kingly way and(d)extending grace.Mencius took people's consent as the basis of legitimation of domination.Mencius held that"benevolent governance"was the very nature of political activity while the"kingly way"was the ultimate goal of politics.The way of achieving the"kingly way"laid upon the method of"extending(rulers')grace"to the people.I argued futher that Mencius'"people-based"government was the government"of the people"and"for the people,"but not"by the peo-ple."I also tackle the problem of"the utilization of benevolence"in Mencius'theorization of"benevolent governance."Moreover,Mencius'articulation of the"kingly way"might not devote enough attention of the gap of modus operandi in the world of thought and that in the world of politics.I also indicate the ana-logical thinking and the maternal thinking in Mencius'idea of"extending grace"to the people.I conclude by stressing the huge discrepancy between Mencius'"people-based"political philosophy and the"ruler-centered"political reality in imperial China.Yet,Mencius articulation of the ruler's moral responsibility and"the honours bestowed by Heaven"carried contemporary relevance to our era.
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