The Democratic Potential of Confucian Minben Thought

Author: Murthy V.

Source: Asian Philosophy, Volume 10, Number 1, 1 March 2000 , pp. 33-47(15)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

In this paper I argue that although the Confucian idea of 'minben' is not synonymous with democracy, some its tenets are conducive to the promotion of a regime in which citizens are politically and economically empowered. In particular, I focus on the way that Confucius, Mencius and Jia Yi stress that government should meet the basic needs of its people. Material well-being is an important precondition of democracy that is often overlooked in contemporary discussions of Chinese government, which usually focus on negative rights or the authoritarian state.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

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