Title: Inherent Social Contract——Mencius's Political Thought from the View of Social Contract Theory
Abstract: Mencius emphasizes an equal relationship between people more than Confucius who just defines different social role.Mencius has a spirit of contract,so we can regard his political thought as an inherent social contract theory.It has five main characteristics.First,the equal footing between contract parties bases on each one's headstream of inherent virtue.Second,the contract protects such a society in which people try to find virtue but not to make wealth.Third,the implementation of the contract depends on people's self-consciousness but not violence.Fourth,the responsibility to defend the contract rests on the Shi social class.Fifth,the contract defends the people's interests rather than those of monarch.
Publication Year: 2011
Publication Date: 2011-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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