Abstract:
Many scholars believe, compared with Mencius’ theory insisting that Benevolence(Ren) is internal, Xunzi’s standpoint advocating Ritual (Li) obviously shows a tendency to objectify the Confucian idea of benevolence. However,Prof. Lao Siguang has a different opinion. He thinks that the idea above is implausible in the stringent meaning. This essay attempts to inquire as to the question of the relation between Xunzi’s theory of Ritual(Li) and its objectification, through making clear Lao Siguang’s related ideas. Theoreticaly, after all, there is still room for further discussion over how to understand the relationship between Xunzi’s theory of Ritual and its objectification. If we talk about the objectification from the “political way” in its modern meaning, Xunzi’s stress maybe mostly lies on the side of a “governed way”. If we consider from the ideal concept must realize itself in social organizations and politic systems, Xunzi’s theory of Ritual obviously assumes the endeavor of consciously seeking for objectification.
