MORAL JUSTIFICATION IN PRE-CH'IN PHILOSOPHY : A RECONSTRUCTION OF MORAL ARGUMENTS FROM THE PRE-CH'IN PERIOD OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY

Abstract

The seven philosophers selected for this study were the most influential of the pre-Ch’ in moral philosophers. The views of each of them were compiled into one comprehensive text and subsequently their philosophies and names were treated as if identical with these texts. The discussion in this study has been restricted as far as possible to these primary sources. This contrasts greatly with the other relatively neglected pre-Ch’ in philosophers whose views have survived only in fragmentary or secondary sources. One standard translation into English of each primary text has been chosen for this study. More than one translation of the same primary text have been used only when unavoidable. The use of standard translations is for convenience of reference and does not imply that this study is based on the interpretation of any particular translator. Transliterations of some terms are provided either in the footnotes or in parenthesis, and are underlined. It is extremely useful for translations of important terms to be accompanied by their transliterations as well. A glossary of transliterations is provided in Appendix I. Although the names of philosophers and texts can be distinguished, yet for centuries each philosopher’s views have been identified with a particular text. This study follows the common modern practice of referring to the philosopher and the text of the same name as one.