@article{ART003259280},
author={Eunkang Koh},
title={Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-},
journal={PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE},
issn={1975-1621},
year={2025},
number={49},
pages={1-24}
TY - JOUR
AU - Eunkang Koh
TI - Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-
JO - PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE
PY - 2025
VL - null
IS - 49
PB - Research Institute for East-West Thought
SP - 1
EP - 24
SN - 1975-1621
AB - This paper is a study that attempts to understand and resolve the issue of emotions through the dimension of emotion itself. In East Asian philosophy, emotions follow a trajectory similar to the relationship between reason and emotion found in Western philosophy. Personal decision-making and social order, which are based on rational language, have tended to view emotions as mental states that must be governed by reason or as secondary elements.
This paper reexamines existing topics in Pre-Qin philosophy with a focus on emotion.
It seeks to explain the emotions that guide behavior in representative Pre-Qin texts such as Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi. Based on references to the importance of emotion in moral practice found in these texts, the paper examines their specific content.
To narrow the scope of discussion, this paper analyzes the emotions necessary for moral practice by explaining the methodologies for practicing ren (benevolence), li (ritual propriety), and jian'ai (impartial care)—the representative concepts of Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi respectively—not through the language of reason or intelligence, but through the language of emotion.
KW - emotion;feeling;Mencius;Xunzi;Mozi
DO -
UR -
ER -
Eunkang Koh. (2025). Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-. PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE, 49, 1-24.
Eunkang Koh. 2025, "Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-", PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE, no.49, pp.1-24.
Eunkang Koh "Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-" PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE 49 pp.1-24 (2025) : 1.
Eunkang Koh. Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-. 2025; 49 : 1-24.
Eunkang Koh. "Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-" PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE no.49(2025) : 1-24.
Eunkang Koh. Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-. PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE, 49, 1-24.
Eunkang Koh. Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-. PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE. 2025; 49 1-24.
Eunkang Koh. Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-. 2025; 49 : 1-24.
Eunkang Koh. "Rethinking the Role of Emotions in Early Chinese Philosophy-With a Special Focus on Mencius, Xunzi, and Mozi-" PHILOSOPHY·THOUGHT·CULTURE no.49(2025) : 1-24.
