Confucian political ethics /

The recent resurgence of interest in Confucius and Confucianism has been reflected in an outpouring of books on all aspects of this important tradition. With this excellent volume, Bell (Tsingua Univ., Beijing), editor of Confucianism for the Modern World (2003) and The East Asian Challenge for Human Rights (1999), offers an indispensable collection of essays that address the contemporary relevance of classical Confucian ideas. Organized into chapters focusing on civil society, justice, pluralism, feminism, and war, Bell's latest offering combines previously published pieces with new articles from a range of significant authors. Perhaps the most interesting contribution is "The Confucian Concept of Ren and the Feminist Ethics of Care: A Comparative Study" by Chenyang Li. In this unique article, Li finds that although Confucianism has a well-deserved paternalistic reputation, its core ethical ideas are surprisingly close to feminist care ethics. Also particularly noteworthy are Bell's own contribution, "Just War and Confucianism: Implications for the Contemporary World," and the late Henry Rosemont Jr.'s "Civil Society, Government, and Confucianism: A Commentary." These and other thought-provoking essays make this an indispensable addition to any serious collection of contemporary political thought. Summing Up: Essential. Graduate and research collections. R. Parrish West Texas A&M University