Philosophy East and West

Abstract:

Many scholars generally believe that Confucius thinks the observance of li to be instrumental in attaining ren. In this essay, it is argued that observing li is not the instrument for attaining ren in the Analects. If we endorse the instrumentalist's interpretation of li for attaining ren, four contradictions would be followed in the Analects. Besides, there is no clear and solid textual evidence for the instrumentalist's interpretation of li. By reinterpreting passage 12.1, where Confucius said "ke ji fu li wei ren" 克己復禮為仁, it is argued that scholars are wrong to refer to it as a support for the instrumentalist's interpretation. In the Analects, Confucius presents a self-cultivation way to attain ren without relying on the observance of li.