Ethico-Political Thought of the Wenzi 文子 in the Context of Its Cosmological and Historical Views

In this article, I present an overview of the main ethical ideas espoused in the two versions of the Wenzi: the manuscript fragments excavated in Dingxian 定縣 (now: Dingzhou 定州) in 1973 and its received edition.[1] There is considerable debate about the relationship between the two. The present analysis explores differences in their ethical outlooks. The bamboo manuscript, which is analysed first, places strong emphasis on the permanent efficacy of moral virtues, claiming that their use will invariably lead to the best possible outcome, in both the personal and public spheres. Having been first championed by the exemplary figures of the past, these values retain their significance under any circumstances. Ultimately, their permanent relevance resides in their status as constitutive elements of the metaphysical design of the world. For its part, the transmitted text promotes a form of situation ethics, relativizing the normativity and effectiveness of conventional ethics. It stipulates that only action informed by considerations of change, timeliness and situational awareness will bear good fruits. Therefore, while the two Wenzi correspond in attempting to create conditions for orderly human life, they differ significantly concerning their ideas about morality.