This Is The Way: Chinese Philosophy Podcast Episode 2: Shame
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Feb 1, 2024 Dr. Jing Iris Hu discusses Confucian shame in ethics, parenting, and societal contexts. The podcast explores shame from Chinese philosophy perspectives, contrasting virtues of students and emphasizing moral development through communal influences. References to classical authors and contemporary philosophers offer insights on shame's role in moral improvement and societal expectations.
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Why Shame Is Philosophically Controversial
- Shame is controversial because it often tracks superficial values and can be socially imposed.
- Justin and Richard identify two core worries: shame reflects crude norms (appearance, wealth) and is externally enforced by others' views.
Confucian Shame Rejects Mere Social Stigma
- Confucian shame is neither passive internalization nor mere tracking of superficial norms.
- Analects example: Confucius marries his daughter to a stigmatized but innocent man, rejecting social stigma as decisive.
Shame As A Better Tool Than Coercion
- Confucius argues shame-based cultivation beats coercive laws for governance.
- Cultivating virtue and ritual creates internal shame that leads people to rectify themselves rather than merely evade punishment.