Review of Mencius In Modern Perspectives

[Anita Hamid]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Mencius In Modern Perspectives" by Raymond K. Li.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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This book, authored by Raymond K. Li, therefore discovered, through a deeper investigation and exploration of Mencius's teachings, what the actual relation between personal development and moral development in Confucian philosophy was. The main idea of the book is that basically, man is a good creature, and this goodness is expressed by his virtues of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom, which can consequently excel in moral righteousness. Key themes to look for in the reading center on Mencius' views: from governance and education to personal behavior, with old-time kings through renderings, interpretations, and applications from ancient wisdom.

I liked the way Raymond K. Li laboriously narrated the dialogues and stories of Mencius, clearly showing that the great ancient teachings are equally relevant to this contemporary generation. It further elaborates the description of the battle going on between destiny and man's ethical choice. If the philosophical discussion has to be refined by this historical study, it will give a chance to readers who have been longing to connect abstract ethical principles with practice. The book was exceptionally well edited and error-free.

I found nothing to dislike about Mencius In Modern Perspectives. A critical implication that can be drawn from the work is the need for scholars in the future. This is a challenge to modern scholars for a revisit of Confucian ethics for governance, education, and personal development. Such encouragement would help to set off a dialogue that shapes moral philosophy for the coming generations.

The overall rating of this book, in my view, would be 5 out of 5 stars, and certainly, I would give it a perfect rating because the author, Raymond K. Li, has gone through the teachings of Mencius in such a meticulous manner and presented them in modern-day relevance, even from an era that was deeply rooted in the past.

The stories in the book are well narrated, and the themes of the philosophical concepts are clear and applicable to contemporary issues. I recommend this to students of philosophy and scholars in work regarding the ethics of Confucius, or to those who would like to learn something from ancient wisdom and how this can be used to inform governance, education, and personal development in the modern world.

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Mencius In Modern Perspectives
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