Confucian “Humanity” (ren 仁) as a resource for a global ethics

ABSTRACT

This article argues that the core value of ?humanity? (ren ?) in the Confucian tradition may serve as a resource for global ethics in the 21st century. After presenting three major questions raised by the COVID-19 pandemic, it proposes a ?reconciliation? between Confucian and Western traditions for a solution to the challenges of the pandemic. Confucian ?humanity?, based on the idea of interpenetration between what is inside and what is outside, may pave the way to a true ?reconciliation? in our era.