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Philosophy / Unit 8   Philosophy 0347 short lesson, about 20 seconds

Governing by Virtue

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The idea

Confucius on government: lead by laws and punishments, and people evade shamelessly; lead by virtue and ritual, and they develop shame and correct themselves.

In practice

The ruler as wind, the people as grass—the Analects' image: character at the top bends conduct below, without force.

Where people slip

This is political philosophy, not etiquette—an alternative theory of what makes order possible.

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