Conscientious Rule: Political and Moral Philosophy in "The Way of Conscientiousness and Trustworthiness" (Zhong xin zhi dao)

Abstract

In this thesis I research the moral significance of "conscientiousness" and "trustworthiness" in the excavated text "The Way of Conscientiousness and Trustworthiness" (Zhong xin zhi dao) to argue that conscientiousness in politics is the ideal political model for Chinese thinkers during the early to the middle of the Warring States period (475-300 BC). I approach the text in two ways in the thesis. First, I analyze the text itself, including the theoretical structure and specific rhetorical uses. This approach is used to illustrate the conceptual meaning and moral significance of "conscientiousness" and "trustworthiness." Second, I compare the text "The Way of Conscientiousness and Trustworthiness" with other excavated and transmitted texts in order to reveal how conscientiousness and trustworthiness were regarded as indispensable morals during the Warring States period. I argue that the author of the text wanted to establish an argument that rulers could not establish conscious politics without conscientiousness and trustworthiness.