Part I
Chapter 1 Strength and Weakness of Early Confucian Ethics on
Women
Chapter 2 A Debate about Minben and Minzhu: Toward Caring
Democracy
Part II
Chapter 3 Feminist Critiques of Gender Inequality and Ethics of
Care
Chapter 4 Notions of Reciprocity: Kongzi, Kant, Beauvoir, and
Critiques of Gender Roles
Chapter 5 Methodology of the Ethics of Care: Integrating Care and
Justice
Part III
Chapter 6 Hume’s Sympathy, Mengzi’s Empathy, Feminist
Interpretations: Extensive Virtue
Chapter 7 China’s Population Policy: Aging, Gender, and
Sustainability
Lijun Yuan is professor of philosophy at Texas State University.
This book is a perfect example of the kind of scholarly rigor that
all histories of discourse should aspire to and serves as a
powerful contribution to the interdisciplinary study of
Confucianism, feminism, and the democratization of China.
*Religious Studies Review*
Yuan's efforts advance the broader project of highlighting valuable
and effective concepts and attitudes within Confucianism that can
support feminist social goals. Ren appears to be a good candidate
for inclusion in a care ethics framework. Situating ren in the
relational ontology of heaven, earth, and humanity, and in the
reciprocal ethics of zhong and shu, this book shows where
Confucianism can speak the language of feminism, equality, and
democracy. It also takes a critical stance in identifying the
Confucian concepts and attitudes that stand in the way of gender
equality, especially the traditional support of power hierarchies
for the sake of social stability. Clearing Confucian theory of this
kind of rigid stratification may make it much more applicable to
the contemporary egalitarian milieu. This paves the way for actual
policies--such as state-sponsored home medical care for elderly
women in rural China--that recognize the existential need in every
human life to be cared for at times. Yuan's vision of this is an
egalitarian ren politics of reciprocal caring with each other,
which is a contemporary moral ideal rooted in the deep wisdom of
traditional values.
*Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy*
Lijun Yuan has presented a renovating, robust study of Confucian
and feminist care ethics, and creatively engage in a profound
dialogue between Eastern and Western philosophies. This is as
grounded and deep account of care ethics as one who does
comparative studies wishes for. It also raises the profound
questions of the foundation of ethics. The suggestion of a fusion
of the Confucian and feminist horizons of the book is
thought-provocative, and attractive.
*Xunwu Chen, University of Texas*
A most comprehensive comparative study of Confucian ethics of ren
in ancient China and feminist ethics of care in contemporary West,
Yuan's book exemplifies a unique and highly fruitful methodology of
comparative philosophy. It also seamlessly combines theoretical
construction and practical concerns. A must read for anyone who is
interest in Confucianism, feminism, and/or comparative
philosophy.
*Huang Yong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong*
The book is a timely synthesis of the Ethics of Care and Confucian
reciprocity, bringing together the promise of disparate
philosophical traditions, one ancient, one modern, to help improve
the lives of contemporary girls and women.
*Maureen Sander-Staudt, Southwest Minnesota State University*
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