Comparing the Chinese-Confucian conception of human dignity with Western Christian concepts one can observe important similarities as well as serious differences. In both traditions the notion of dignity is known and used in their doctrines of men as an important concept. Both traditions consider dignity as claim of respect, differentiate between an idea of dignity which is given with the existence and an idea of dignity which is to be acquired by men. And both traditions differentiate between the dignity of commonality and that of the individual. There are also differences in the following aspects: a. While in the Chinese-Confucian tradition both differentiations - between individual and common dignity and between acquired and given dignity - virtually coincidence with each other, they don't in Christianity. b. In the one case common dignity means dignity of a people, in the other case it means dignity of humankind. c. The Eastern tradition is convinced that man is able to master his concupiscence by his own will and thus gain individual dignity. The Christian tradition does not share this view, but considers dignity independent from a specific way of life and behavior. d. The Chinese tradition does not draw any consequences from its concept of dignity which protect the individual against the state. For the Western tradition exactly these consequences are of central significance.

Enthalten in:
Theologische Literaturzeitung; 2011/1 Monatsschrift für das gesamte Gebiet der Theologie und Religionswissenschaft (2011)

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Serie / Reihe: Theologische Literaturzeitung

Personen: Lo, Pilgrim W.K.

Schlagwörter: Anthropologie Menschenwürde Konfuzianismus