Confucianism, compassion (ren) and higher education: A perspective from the analects of confucius

Abstract

Confucius was a renowned sage and philosopher of China, and Confucianism is one of the significant thought systems which has influenced profoundly traditional Chinese culture for centuries. In this chapter, the author outlines briefly the relationship between Confucianism and education and reviews Confucius's compassion as learned from the Analects of Confucius. In particular, from the perspective of Confucianism, he finds that contemporary higher education is utilitarian and in lack of sufficient moral awareness. Without compassion, higher educational institutes may only work mechanically and financially. He suggests that Confucius's teachings are not outdated but modern and discusses the implications of the Confucian compassion for contemporary higher education. He advocates reconstructing compassionate higher education in daily practices and transforming higher education into compassionate higher education.