Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" indeed reflects a traditional Confucian view where affection and responsibility are strongest within the family and diminish as they extend outward to broader social circles. In Confucianism, love or benevolence (ren) starts with filial piety and familial duties, then gradually extends to friends, community, and eventually to all people, though in varying degrees. This hierarchical extension of love does not imply lesser importance but rather acknowledges the natural human tendency to have closer bonds with those who are nearer in relation, while still promoting a universal ethic of care and respect for all.
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A discussion on "differentiated benevolence"
•Does professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" suggest that Confucians claim a stronger love toward one’s own family, while the love grows thinner to others? How do you understand the extension of love in Confucianism?
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Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" does show that in Confucian thought, there is a closer and stronger love towards one's own family, and this love gradually becomes less intense as the relationship becomes more distant, which is in line with the characteristics of "differentiated love."
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Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" speaks to the idea that individuals naturally exhibit different levels of affection and concern based on their relationships. In the context of Confucianism, this concept aligns with the traditional Confucian emphasis on familial love and the importance of relationships, particularly those defined by proximity and social roles.
The extension of love in Confucianism can be understood in a concentric manner: it starts with one's family and then extends to relatives, friends, and ultimately to society at large. This progression suggests that while familial love is paramount, there is an expectation of extending care and compassion outward, albeit in a differentiated manner. The social harmony and moral order in society are seen as outcomes of properly nurturing these relationships beginning from the family unit.
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Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" and the Confucian concept of benevolence both emphasize a structured approach to love and care, starting with the family and extending outward in a graduated manner. This approach is designed to maintain social order and harmony while also recognizing the natural limitations of human capacity to love and care for others.
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This doesn't mean that there is no love for strangers. Instead, the degree and manner of love vary according to the closeness of the relationship. In social interactions, for acquaintances, more direct help and care may be given based on previous contacts and friendships. As for strangers, people also uphold basic kindness and fairness, yet there are differences in emotional depth and the sense of responsibility compared with that towards relatives. This concept was closely related to the social structure at that time and helped to maintain the social order with the family at its core.
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it's important to understand the Confucian concept of "benevolence", which is central to Confucian ethics. Confucianism does emphasize a hierarchical structure of relationships, where the closest relationships, such as those within the family, are prioritized. This does not mean that love for others outside the family is absent or thin; rather, it is structured differently. Confucianism teaches that one should extend love and care outward from the family to the community and beyond, but the intensity and nature of these relationships vary.
In essence, Confucianism advocates for a structured and hierarchical approach to relationships, where the closest relationships are given the most attention and care, but this does not preclude the importance of broader social relationships and responsibilities.
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Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" doesn't mean that Confucian love is so simply graded. In Confucianism, love starts from family but extends outward. Loving one's family is the starting point. For example, filial piety is fundamental. However, this love doesn't stop at the family. Confucianism promotes the idea of "loving all people." Through self - cultivation, one can gradually expand the scope of love from relatives to neighbors, friends, and ultimately all of humanity. It is a continuous process of moral expansion based on the initial family - centered love.
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It might seem that in Confucianism, family ties are emphasized first, but it doesn't mean love for others is weak.
Confucian love unfolds in layers. At its core is "love for kinfolk ", laying the emotional bedrock within families. From there, it branches into "love for fellow folks ", guided by the golden rule of treating others considerately, widening the scope of care to society. And it doesn't stop there, stretching further to "love for nature's beings ", knitting a seamless web of connection that shows love's growth, not decay, in outreach.
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Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" reflects a key aspect of Confucian thought regarding the varying degrees of emotional attachment across different relationships. While it underscores a preference for familial loyalty and care, it also recognizes the importance of extending moral responsibilities beyond those closest to us. The understanding of love in Confucianism is therefore multifaceted—it balances deep personal connections with an overarching commitment to ethical behavior within larger social contexts.
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Confucianism's "love with distinction" doesn't mean only loving one's own family. It starts from strong family love and extends outward. The love may seem to vary in intensity due to relationship closeness, but it doesn't mean indifference to others. It's a gradation that aims to first maintain family bonds and then extend to society and all things, for the sake of overall harmony.
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Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" is related to the Confucian understanding of love, but it does not mean that Confucianism advocates stronger love for one's own family and weaker love for others. In fact, this is a misunderstanding of Confucian "benevolence" thought.
First of all, the Confucian "benevolence" is a love that is constantly expanding and expanding from blood and kinship. According to Confucianism, the love most in line with man's natural nature is love for his parents, that is, "filial piety." Confucianism, however, does not believe that love should stay within the family. Confucius said that "benevolence is beauty", that is, neighbors should also love each other. Mencius further proposed that "care for the old and the old, the young and the young", extending love from the family to the society and even the world. The extension of this kind of love reflects the concept of "being kind to the people and loving things" in Confucianism.
Secondly, the "differentiated love" proposed by Professor Fei Xiaotong does not mean that the strength or thickness of love is different, but that the object and scope of love are different. This distinction is based on people's social networks. In the view of Confucianism, people are always in the relationship of family or society, and the relationship between people is asymmetrical. Each person, centered on himself, pushes outward, producing a circular ripple of difference from the distance of the relationship. This structure of social relations is called "differential pattern" by Professor Fei Xiaotong. In this pattern, there is also a difference in love, but this difference does not mean that the quality or intensity of love is different, but that the object and manner of love vary according to the distance of the relationship.
Finally, it should be pointed out that the Confucian idea of "benevolence" is not a selfish love or a limited love. Instead, it emphasizes a kind of universal love and selfless love. Although Confucianism believes that more attention should be paid to the interests of family members, this does not mean that the love for others is weak. In the view of Confucianism, love should be a broad, inclusive and undifferentiated emotion. However, in real life, due to the complexity and diversity of human social relationships, the way love is expressed and realized will be different.
To sum up, Professor Fei Xiaotong's "differentiated love" is not the same as the Confucian idea of stronger love for one's own family and weaker love for others. "Benevolence" in Confucianism is a broad, inclusive and undifferentiated love, which emphasizes the extension and expansion of love, from the family to the society, and then to all things under the world. At the same time, because of the complexity and diversity of human social relationship networks, the expression and realization of love will be different. -
From family to society: Confucianism emphasizes "managing the family well, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world," viewing the family as the basic unit of society. By cultivating love within the family, one can gradually extend this love to the societal level, fostering harmonious social relations.From the individual to the collective: Confucianism advocates that "benevolence" is not merely love for individuals, but also love for the collective. This love requires individuals to pay attention to the interests of the collective and contribute their own strength to its prosperity and development.From humanity to nature: Confucianism also promotes the idea of "the unity of heaven and man," believing that humanity and nature are an integrated whole. Therefore, Confucian love also encompasses care and protection for nature, requiring people to respect nature and conform to its laws.
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Yes,Professor Fei Xiaotongs concept ofdifferentiated loveindeed suggests that Confucianism emphasizes stronger love for ones own family,with love diminishing for others as relationships become more distant.In Confucian thought,the extension of love follows a certain order,starting from the family and gradually extending to society and the state.
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Fei Xiaotongs concept ofdifferentiated lovealigns with the Confucian idea ofgraded affection,advocating that love begins within the family and extends outward.Confucianism emphasizes starting with filial piety and respect for elders,gradually extending love to others.This extension of love is not random but orderly,from close family ties to society and nature.Fei Xiaotong believed that modern Chinese society should integrate Western technology with traditional Chinese social structures,including emotional foundations.Confucian benevolence requires starting with familial love and ultimately caring for all things to achieve harmony.
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The "differentiated love" in Confucianism under the pattern of "the differential mode of association" doesn't mean having less love for outsiders. It takes loving family members as the starting point and spreads out like ripples in a pond. From family members to relatives, friends, neighbors and society at large, it starts from the most basic relationships and gradually cultivates a broader sense of benevolence and responsibility, aiming to build a harmonious and orderly social environment.
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Professor Fei Xiaotong’s “differentiated love” concept in Confucianism suggests a graded approach to love, starting with family and extending outward. It’s about loving others while recognizing the natural closeness to family. The extension of love in Confucianism is like ripples in water, beginning with the family and gradually reaching out to society, promoting harmonious relationships based on moral values.
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the concept of differentiated benevolence suggests that love and concern are expressed in varying degrees based on relationships and roles. This does not necessarily mean that love for one's own family is stronger in an absolute sense, but rather that it is manifested in a specific and appropriate way within the context of familial relationships. Confucianism emphasizes the importance of filial piety (respect and care for parents), family harmony, and the extension of love and virtue to others in a hierarchical and orderly manner.
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The Confucian thought of "benevolence" is the core of Confucian ethics, which contains two aspects: "differentiated love" and "benevolence of one body".
differentiated love is an aspect of Confucian benevolence, which means that love is different, and this difference is based on human's natural emotions and human ethics. On the other hand, Confucianism also emphasizes the "benevolence of one body," which is a broader and universal kind of benevolence.
It is not contrary to the values of equality and universal love in modern society. The "difference" here does not refer to preference or inequality of rights, but to reasonable differences based on human natural emotions and human ethics. The Confucian thought of benevolence emphasizes the expansion of love from the inside out, from near to far, that is, starting from loving one's relatives, gradually expanding to loving all people, and finally reaching the realm of "benevolence of one body".
To sum up, the Confucian thought of benevolence is an ethical concept that not only pursues differences but also pursues universal love.
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Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" does not simply mean that Confucians have a stronger love for their own families and thinner love for others.In Confucianism, love does start from the family, as emphasized by the idea of "filial piety" and "fraternal love." It believes that one should first show respect and care for parents, siblings, and relatives, which is the foundation of cultivating kindness . However, this does not imply that the love for others is weak. Confucianism advocates "extending love," that is, gradually expanding love from family members to society and others. For example, the principle of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you" reflects the idea of treating others with love and respect .
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This understanding is a misinterpretation. In Confucianism, the concept of "love with distinctions" doesn't mean the love becomes thinner for others. It emphasizes that love starts from the family as a center and extends outward in concentric circles. It's a step - by - step way of practicing benevolence.
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Confucianism and Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" suggest that love starts with the family and extends outward in a structured manner, with the strength of love diminishing as the distance from the self increases. This hierarchy of love is not just about personal affection but also about fulfilling moral and social duties that contribute to the harmony and stability of society.
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Confucianism's extension of love is constantly expanding, from family to society to all things in nature. This expansion reflects the profound understanding and care of Confucianism for human emotions. At the same time, Professor Fei Xiaotong's concept of "differentiated love" also reveals the complexity and diversity of love. When understanding and evaluating the Confucian concept of love, we should treat its connotation and extension comprehensively and objectively, and avoid one-sided and extreme interpretation.
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According to Confucian thought, the idea of "differentiated love" does not mean being indifferent or uncaring towards those who are distant or less close. Instead, it is based on the practical limitations of human emotions and capabilities in real life. Everyone's time and energy are limited, and it is impossible to give equal attention and care to everyone. Therefore, starting with those who need help the most and can benefit the most from one's efforts—such as family members—and gradually expanding one's sphere of influence is a reasonable and practical approach.
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This understanding is a misinterpretation.
In Confucianism, the concept of "love with distinctions" (differentiated love) doesn't mean that love for others is thin. Confucianism emphasizes that love starts from the family as a starting point. Loving one's family is the most immediate and basic manifestation. From this, it extends outward in concentric circles. One's love and care for others, society, and the world also exist. The Confucian concept of benevolence advocates actively spreading love and care to a broader range through self - cultivation and moral practice, aiming to achieve harmonious co - existence and mutual assistance among people and a just and kind social order.
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This is a rather complex philosophical question related to Confucian concepts. Regarding "differentiated benevolence" in Confucianism, it doesn't mean the love for others outside the family is "thinner" in a negative sense. Love starts from the family as a natural and fundamental unit, like filial piety towards parents. Then it extends outward in a hierarchical but inclusive way. For example, one should love family members first but not neglect others. It's about gradually expanding the scope of care and respect. Confucianism promotes the idea that through self-cultivation, one can better understand and practice this extended love. So, "differentiated love" is more about an ordered way of spreading love and benevolence, starting from the closest relationships and reaching out to the broader world.
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In Confucianism, the extension of love is not arbitrary but follows a specific order. It begins with the most immediate and intimate relationships, such as those between parents and children, and then gradually extends to more distant social relationships. This is based on the belief that a person's moral development starts with the cultivation of virtues within the family, which serves as the foundation for extending those virtues to society.In summary, Confucianism advocates for a structured extension of love, starting from the family and expanding to society, with the understanding that the strength of love varies according to the closeness of relationships. This approach reflects a practical and gradual moral development that is rooted in the family unit and extends to the broader community.
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Confucius' concept of "love" is mainly reflected in the concept of "benevolence", which contains the requirements of interpersonal relationship handling and personal moral cultivation. Confucius' idea of "benevolence" can be understood from many angles, including love between family and relatives, love between friends, and love in political ideas and love in education and cultivation.
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No. It starts from loving family members (filial piety and fraternal love). Then, through the principle of "the benevolent loves others" and the Golden Rule "Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you", it extends to loving others in society. Finally, it even reaches a state of loving all things in the universe in a broader sense, showing a progressive and inclusive expansion of love.
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No, Confucianism does not claim that love toward one's own family is stronger while love for others grows thinner. Rather, it emphasizes a broad and inclusive sense of love and concern for all people, with family bonds serving as a foundational starting point for extending that love to wider social circles.
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