On Emotion and Rationality in Xunzi's Virtue Ethics
Xunzi's ethics can be classified as Virtue Ethics,according to the definition proposed by Rosalind Hursthouse.This Virtue Ethics,however,is not rationalistic in that there is a complex structure in his theory of human nature:in this theory,apart from moral rationality,there are also natural desires and moral emotions.Based on his cosmological notions,Xunzi held that virtues are formed on the basis of two elements:emotion and rationality.These two are perceived as closely related because Xunzi's Virtue Ethics indicates that virtue is the result of the interacting of these two("emotion is born while rationality helps one make choices").Additionally,Xunzi also provided a unique perspective to reflect on Virtue Ethics.The dichotomy between emotionalism and rationalism proposed by Michael Slote recently is not applicable in Xunzi's Virtue Ethics.
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