Ancient Chinese Philosophy Discussion Questions: What is Ren? "What is the significance of ren in the history of Chinese thought?

"Ren" is an ancient Chinese moral category with a very broad meaning. It refers to the mutual love between people. Confucius regarded "ren" as the highest moral principle, moral standard and moral realm. He was the first to integrate the overall moral norms into one, forming an ethical thought structure with "ren" as the core, which includes filial piety, brotherhood, loyalty, forgiveness, propriety, knowledge, courage, respect, generosity, trust, sensitivity, and beneficence, etc. Among them, filial piety and brotherhood are the foundation of ren. Among them, filial piety and fraternal duty is the foundation of benevolence and one of the basic pillars of the ideological system of benevolence. His idea of sacrificing one's life for the realization of benevolence, i.e., "killing one's body in order to achieve benevolence," has had a great influence on later generations.

The significance of ren in the history of Chinese thought: Confucius' discovery of ren and his rooting of the culture of rites and music on the basis of ren is the greatest contribution of Confucius to Chinese culture. With the help of ren, Chinese traditional culture has successfully realized the transition from the ancient times to the middle ages; with the help of ren, the cultural lineage of thousands of years before and thousands of years after Confucius can be communicated and connected without being severed and disconnected.