Overview

Confucian and Stoic Perspectives on Forgiveness explores the absence of forgiveness in classical Confucianism and Roman Stoicism as well as the alternatives to forgiveness that these rich philosophical traditions offer. After discussing forgiveness as it is understood in contemporary philosophy, Sean McAleer explores Confucius’ vocabulary for and attitude toward anger and resentment, arguing that Confucius does not object to anger but to its excesses. While Confucius does not make room for forgiveness, McAleer argues that Mencius cannot do so, given the distinctive twist he gives to self-examination in response to mistreatment. Xunzi, by contrast, leaves open a door to forgiveness that Mencius bolted shut. The book then proceeds to the Roman Stoics—Musonius Rufus, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca—arguing that their distinctive conceptions of value and wellbeing rule out forgiveness, though like the Confucians the Stoics offer alternatives to forgiveness well worth considering. The book ends by comparing the two traditions, arguing that while Stoicism helps us navigate many of the turbulent waters of everyday life, Confucianism enjoys advantages when we interact with those to whom we are bound by ties of affection and intimacy.

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9781793622648

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Reviews

In an age defined by outrage, McAleer's comparative study in the ethics of anger, resentment, and forgiveness is both timely and important. Excellently grounded in contemporary philosophical scholarship and an especially close reading of the early Confucians literature, McAleer's book forcefully argues that the early Confucians did not deploy a concept of forgiveness. He offers several compelling explanations for the absence of forgiveness in Confucian and Stoic ethics, and in doing so provides us with fascinating genealogical crumbs for understanding why forgiveness emerged in other moral traditions. Not only does this work serve as an important corrective on some recent scholarship in Confucian ethics, it calls our attention to a significant contrast between Christian and Confucian morality.--Thorian R. Harris, University of California, Davis

In an age defined by outrage, McAleer's comparative study in the ethics of anger, resentment, and forgiveness is both timely and important. Excellently grounded in contemporary philosophical scholarship and an especially close reading of the early Confucians literature, McAleer's book forcefully argues that the early Confucians did not deploy a concept of forgiveness. He offers several compelling explanations for the absence of forgiveness in Confucian and Stoic ethics, and in doing so provides us with fascinating genealogical crumbs for understanding why forgiveness emerged in other moral traditions. Not only does this work serve as an important corrective on some recent scholarship in Confucian ethics, it calls our attention to a significant contrast between Christian and Confucian morality. --Thorian R. Harris, University of California, Davis

In an age defined by outrage, McAleer's comparative study in the ethics of anger, resentment, and forgiveness is both timely and important. Excellently grounded in contemporary philosophical scholarship and an especially close reading of the early Confucians literature, McAleer's book forcefully argues that the early Confucians did not deploy a concept of forgiveness. He offers several compelling explanations for the absence of forgiveness in Confucian and Stoic ethics, and in doing so provides us with fascinating genealogical crumbs for understanding why forgiveness emerged in other moral traditions. Not only does this work serve as an important corrective on some recent scholarship in Confucian ethics, it calls our attention to a significant contrast between Christian and Confucian morality.

Author Information

Sean McAleer is professor of philosophy at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

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