Final Paper Instructions for Writing on the Ethics of Confucius (in the Lun Yu)

Note
It will be up to you to decide how broadly, or narrowly to focus the discussion if you choose to write a paper at the end of the course instead of the weekly writing assignments.  The paper is for credit only and will not be graded (given a mark) unless special arrangements are made with me for this to be done (and it has to fulfill a need of your program).

Topic
What is Confucius’ moral teaching?  Explain and evaluate it, particularly with reference to the main concepts of li and jen.  You could also consider the Confucian treatment of tao, te, or some other (secondary) theme found in the text.  Writing this paper will be greatly assisted by reading the contemporary analysis presented in Confucius -- the Secular As Sacred by Herbert Fingarette.  Material from this text can also be incorporated into your discussion.  You would also be assisted by reading the introductory material in the translation of the Analects (by Ames and Rosemont) in the department libraries, and this could be incorporated into your discussion.  Regardless of the themes you focus on, however, you must evaluate some aspect of this philosophy that you find problematic or meritorious.

Method
You would have to provide interpretive definitions of the themes you focus on, and a justification for your interpretation(s).  You can do this by explaining features that your find to be essential to them, by explaining how the themes themselves are essentially related, and/or by explaining how a related key passage(s) or distinctively Confucian metaphor can be understood.  To further clarify concepts and/or to proceed with an evaluation of the philosophy, you could focus on one or more of the following (or choose your own):

•	Whether the Confucian view of "Good" or jen conduct has any bearing on what it means to be a person and/or whether this view has any relevance for us today. 
•	How and why the ritual or “holy vessel” of li is a central, Confucian metaphor and how it is significant for us today.
•	How the Confucian view of what it means to be a person, and what it means to be a good person, are related.
•	How the chun tzu (junzi) or “morally superior person” has a different sort of moral integrity than the average person.