Sagehood and Supererogation in the Analects. Issue 2 (June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Connolly, Timothy
• Is Part Of: Journal of Chinese philosophy. Volume 40:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 269
• Page End: 286
• Publication Date: 2013-06
• Subjects: Philosophy, Chinese -- Periodicals; 181.11
• DOI: 10.1111/1540-6253.12035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-8121

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The Confucian ethical tradition emphasizes unceasing progress toward the goal of sagehood, and so it is generally opposed to the idea of supererogation, as this implies that we may be satisfied with attaining some sub‐sagely level of morality. The one possible exception to this anti‐supererogationist stance, however, turns out to be Confucius himself, who in the <italic>Analects</italic> appears to downplay sagehood and instead focus on the goal of <italic>junzi</italic>. Yet given that Confucius stresses ceaseless cultivation as much as anyone else in the tradition, this leaves us with a puzzle about the sage's status in the <italic>Analects</italic>. Is sagehood supererogatory?</p> </abstract>