When so much of civic life is painful and fractious, why should we be polite? Drawing on the work of early Chinese philosophers who lived during great political turmoil but nonetheless avidly sought to mind their manners, Amy Olberding explains why politeness still matters, and why it is essential to human life, due to our deeply social nature.
The study presents a novel theoretical framework for interpreting the Analects, arguing that its moral sensibility stems from a pre-theoretical admiration of virtuous exemplars. Olberding posits that Confucius, prior to his philosophical inquiries, instinctively recognizes virtue in certain individuals. The Analects then serves as an organized effort to articulate the qualities that define these admired figures, emphasizing that moral reasoning originates from personal experiences of admiration rather than established criteria, ultimately guiding emulation of virtue.