Várnai, András (2025) A teljhatalom igézete. KELLÉK : FILOZÓFIAI FOLYÓIRAT (74). pp. 7-30. ISSN 1453-7400
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Abstract
The second half of ancient China’s Zhou period (ca. 1050 BC – 221 BC) is a period when the task of ordering the “under of Heaven” (tianxia 天下) was added to the issues of the management of society struggle. The conceptual scheme that seems to be found in the fascinate of omnipotence is an ideological concept. The most important schools of Chinese philosophy focus on how power is exercised. Without exception, criticism of the actual exercise of power is given first place. What the Sinological literature calls Confucian moral philosophy is part of this technique of power, which is expressed in Kongzi’s Lunyu in the requirement of zhengming (正名 – “straight names”), very abstractly referring to the model of the old kings. The same is the case with the teaching of the Motists, in which Mozi wants to remedy the problems with the utopian theory of “extended care” (jian’ai 兼愛), instead of the established technique of power, emphasizing the pair of diagnosis and therapy as a measure of wise governance. The Confucian Mengzi’s arguments sharply criticize the activities of the rulers involved in the fictitious dialogue, combining the main ‘props’ of Kongzi’s teaching with advice on practical procedures. Xunzi, who is also a Confucian, offers the possibility of the reach of power regulation with a detailed presentation of the influence of zhengming. Her student, the legalist Han Feizi, with the role of “method” (shu 術), proposed a means of rigid enforcement of this regulation, the most obvious expression of the demand for omnipotent power.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | the fascinate of omnipotence; “straight names” zhengming (zhengming 正名); “a man of noble virtue” (junzi 君子); “Heaven’s decree” (tianming 天命); “respect of the parents” (xiao 孝); “extended mutual care” (jian xiang’ai 兼相愛); “wise man” (shengren 聖人); “useful of the under of Heaven” (tianxia li 天下利); “appreciates of agreement” (shang tong 尚同); “humanity” (ren 仁) and “equity” (yi 義); “the people are the value” (min wei gui 民為貴); “the consummated equity of the under of Heaven” (tianxia tongyi 天下通義); “straight way” (zhengdao 正道); “the »holy« royal way” (shengwang zhi dao 聖王之道); “convention” (sucheng 俗成 – “fulfillment by habit”); “names and reality” (mingshi 名實); “names and »forms«” (xingming 形名); “decree and law” (ling 令, fa 法); “power position” (shi 勢) and “method” (shu 術) |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion / filozófia, pszichológia, vallás > B1 Philosophy (General) / filozófia általában B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion / filozófia, pszichológia, vallás > BL Religion / vallás B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion / filozófia, pszichológia, vallás > BN2 Taoism / taoizmus |
| Depositing User: | Iza Györgyjakab |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Feb 2026 15:20 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Feb 2026 15:20 |
| URI: | https://real.mtak.hu/id/eprint/235098 |
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