Confucian Ritual and Moral Education by Colin J. Lewis

Author:Colin J. Lewis [Lewis, Colin J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: undefined, philosophy, Religious
ISBN: 9781793612410
Google: 4He1zQEACAAJ
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2020-09-30T23:27:20.685113+00:00

The moral imagination undergirds an ability not only to think morally, but to perceive the morally salient features of situations. Moreover, the images and ideas produced and contemplated are not general and abstract, but specific and concrete. These are the features that, according to Nussbaum, largely facilitate the development of the overarching moral capacity to be capable of going beyond mere rule-following and engage in genuine moral performance and improvisation (pp. 156–157). The moral imagination thus heightens the ability to respond to morally salient issues and events even in cases where there is no clear script for action.

While Nussbaum focuses on the use of literature as a means of engaging readers’ imaginations and helping to develop moral competence, the Confucian account offers ritual as another plausible candidate for such a tool that makes use of and conjoins various metacognitive capacities. A passage from the Li Ji, for example, emphasizes visualization while fasting in preparation for a sacrifice to deceased relatives:

During the days of fasting: reflect on the way [the deceased one] dwelt and resided; reflect on the way the person laughed and spoke; reflect on the person’s aspirations and beliefs; reflect on what brought the person joy; reflect on that of which the person was fond. On the third day of fasting, you will visualize the person for whom you were fasting. (24.2/123/27–28)

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