Tags :Neuroscience of ethics

德不孤，必有邻。——孔子(dé bù gū, bì yǒu lín — Kǒngzǐ) Translation: “Virtue never stands alone—it always attracts neighbors.” Explanation: Confucius’ sociological axiom “德不孤，必有邻(dé bù gū, bì yǒu lín)” (Virtue never stands alone—it always attracts neighbors) proposes humanity’s earliest theory of moral magnetism. The character 邻(lín)—combining 邑(yì, community) and 粦(lín, glowing fireflies—metaphorizes ethical influence as radiant social cohesion. This principle shaped the 周礼(zhōu lǐ) (Zhou Dynasty rituals) where virtuous lords attracted neighboring states through 德治(dé zhì) (moral governance) rather than military force. Historical applications demonstrate this “glowing” effect. Tang Dynasty records show villages adopting 义仓(yì cāng) (charity granaries) after observing neighboring communities’ prosperity from collective ethics—an early documented case of moral contagion. Modern network science quantifies this: MIT’s 2023 study revealed altruistic acts...

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君子喻于义，小人喻于利。——孔子(jūn zǐ yù yú yì, xiǎo rén yù yú lì — Kǒngzǐ) Translation: “Nobles awaken to righteousness; plebeians awaken to profit.” Explanation: Confucius’ maxim “君子喻于义(jūn zǐ yù yú yì), 小人喻于利(xiǎo rén yù yú lì)” (Nobles awaken to righteousness; plebeians awaken to profit) establishes humanity’s earliest cognitive hierarchy theory of ethics. The character 喻(yù)—combining 口(kǒu, speech) and 俞(yú, digest)—metaphorizes moral internalization as a process of verbal instruction transformed into visceral conviction. This framework shaped the 士大夫(shì dà fū) (scholar-official) class’s governance philosophy, where policy decisions prioritized collective 义(yì) (justice) over individual gain. Historical applications abound. Edo-period Japan’s 企業士(kigyōshi) (samurai-merchants) blended Confucian 义(yì) with commerce, refusing profitable opium trade on ethical grounds. Modern parallels emerge in ESG investing’s tripartite framework—environmental 义(yì) superseding...

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