Abstract:

Given the government initiative to build China's autonomous knowledge system of economics, this paper explores the possibility of building it around the key Confucian concept of ren(仁).This paper first examines the government's guiding principles, and accordingly answers the question of "what this system is not," i.e., the necessary conditions that the final product must meet. We then propose one approach: start from Confucius's "one in all" philosophical system of ren, interpret ren as a behavioral axiom of benevolent utility maximization, and, via the scientific methods of deduction and induction, develop a new knowledge system which can compete with modern economics. This paper gives an overview of the current state of this research agenda: our team's finished research papers and tentative responses to doubts. It is not unimaginable that this formalized Confucian economics may potentially take root in China and reach the world,(re-)discovering useful knowledge for all people under heaven.

Key words:

Chinese economics, knowledge system, Confucian economics, China's cultural heritage, axiomatic system