Humanitarian governance in Confucian philosophy

Abstract

This academic article examines the concept of “Humanitarian governance” in Confucian philosophy, elucidating the intrinsic relationship between personal virtue and social order. The study reveals that Confucius regards Ren (仁) — humanity — as the supreme principle of coexistence, emphasizing moral cultivation through daily conduct as the foundation of a peaceful and just society. For Confucius, social harmony originates within the family, where filial piety and the maintenance of harmonious relationships constitute the essence of moral life.
Confucian philosophy, rather than orienting toward the afterlife, situates its ethical ideal in the creation of goodness within the present world. Emotional self-regulation, guided by conscience, is central to moral discipline, as emotions profoundly shape human behavior and communal relations. Confucius contends that Ren is not an innate state but a continuous process of self-cultivation—a synthesis of moral learning, disciplined practice, and appropriate conduct. Such cultivation transcends the individual, radiating outward to foster collective harmony, order, and sustainable moral flourishing within society.