Confucianism and Material Enrichment: A Political-Economic Perspective

Abstract

In contemporary politics, ethics are often sidelined in favour of other priorities, such as power, wealth, or short-term gains. From the perspective of Chinese society, this may imply that Confucianism, which emphasises moral cultivation as a core principle of its teachings, does not contribute much to addressing political issues in democratic societies. Confucianism is indeed aware of the importance of materialistic gains in achieving political goals and the tendency to stress self-interest in the process of decision making. In addition, Confucianism is cautious of the consequences when power, wealth, or selfinterest becomes an end in itself. By making clear a distinction between the personal and official, and engaging Confucian thoughts through historical texts, it is found that Confucianism does not disapprove the pursuit of material prosperity or self-interest but is concerned over the moral motivation of a selfinterested person vis-à-vis moral and political goals. The question and possible account revolving moral motivation is where Confucianism can contribute relevantly to contemporary political discourse.