Asian Values and Human Rights: A Confucian Communitarian Perspective (Wing-Tsit Chan Memorial Lectures)
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Book Overview
Since the horrific Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, the debate on human rights in China has raged on with increasing volume and shifting context, but little real progress. In this provocative book, one of our most learned scholars of China moves beyond the political shouting match, informing and contextualizing this debate from a Confucian and a historical perspective.
"Asian Values" is a concept advanced by some authoritarian regimes to differentiate an Asian model of development, supposedly based on Confucianism, from a Western model identified with individualism, liberal democracy, and human rights. Highlighting the philosophical development of Confucianism as well as the Chinese historical experience with community organization, constitutionalism, education, and women's rights, Wm. Theodore de Bary argues that while the Confucian sense of personhood differs in some respects from Western libertarian concepts of the individual, it is not incompatible with human rights, but could, rather, enhance them. De Bary also demonstrates that Confucian communitarianism has historically resisted state domination, and that human rights in China could be furthered by a genuine Confucian communitarianism that incorporates elements of Western civil society. With clarity and elegance, Asian Values and Human Rights broadens our perspective on the Chinese human rights debate.Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0674001966
ISBN13:9780674001961
Release Date:March 2000
Publisher:Harvard University Press
Length:208 Pages
Weight:0.04 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Related Subjects
Ancient Anthropology Asia China Civil Rights Civil Rights & Liberties Constitutional Law Cultural Education & Reference Geography History History & Surveys Human Rights Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Politics & Social Sciences Regional Social Sciences Specific TopicsCustomer Reviews
1 rating
Good arguments although the style was pretentious.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This work effectivley demonstrates how oppressive Asian nations have attempted to justify their rule using Confucian concepts to argue that western ideas about human rights do not apply to them. The author clearly demonstrates that Confucian principles are not inherently in conflict with western ideas about human rights, despite the cultural differences that do exist between "Western" philosophy and "Eastern" philosophy about the individual and the state. The only weakness in the book is its pretentious style. I mean do you really have to have a sentence that is seven lines long? I don't think that shows intelligence but a desire to appear smarter than you really are.
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