Tu Weiming argues that this Confucian model offers a vital alternative to modern "instrumental rationality" and extreme individualism. It proposes that true freedom is found not in independence from others, but in the that allows for both personal growth and social harmony.
: Selfhood begins with the physical person. The body is not a prison for the soul but a sacred vessel that must be disciplined and respected through ritual ( li ). Confucian Thought: Selfhood as Creative Transfo...
Tu Weiming's essay, explores the Confucian concept of the self not as a static entity, but as an open, evolving process of "becoming." Central to this perspective is the idea that human flourishing is achieved through the continuous integration of the individual with the family, society, and the cosmos. Core Concepts of Confucian Selfhood Tu Weiming argues that this Confucian model offers
: Unlike the Western "isolated individual," the Confucian self is defined by its relationships. It is an open system that expands through a "fiduciary community," starting from the core of the person and radiating outward. The body is not a prison for the
: Self-cultivation is a proactive, creative act. It is the process of "learning to be human" ( xue ) by refining one's internal virtues to harmonize with external social roles.
: The center of human cognition and emotion. Cultivation requires aligning the mind-heart with the principle of "Humaneness" ( Ren ).
