Confucianism, the Idea of Min-Pen, and the Democracy

Abstract

With few exceptions, it is believed that Confucianism is incompatible
 with democracy. The 'incompatibility thesis' has
 attained the status of near orthodoxy. It is shared by commentators
 who are hostile as well as those sympathetic to Chinese
 culture generally and to Confucianism in particular. The arguments
 for incompatibility typically stress the differences between
 on the one hand 'democratic values' such as liberty,
 equality and plurality, and on the other 'Confucian values' such
 as duty, responsibility and loyalty. Having challenged the arguments
 for incompatibility by showing that the differences
 between so-called democratic values and Confucian values are
 in fact greatly exaggerated, the paper proceeds to discuss the
 significance of the Confucian idea of min-pen (or min-ben,
 people as roots). The aim is to show that philosophical Confucianism
 is not only not an obstacle to democracy but could well
 be the foundation thereof. The argument will then be further
 reinforced by revisiting the old 'modernization thesis.'