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Deliver Big Benefits for the People

Updated:2024-08-20
By:The Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies

Deliver Big Benefits for the People

As it appears in The Analects of Confucius (Lun Yu), this notion emphasizes the necessity of a ruler extensively helping his people and bringing them as many benefits as possible. One of Confucius' disciples Zigong asked: "If a ruler delivers extensive benefits to his people, how do you rate him? Do you consider him benevolent and virtuous?" Confucius (551-479 B.C.) said: "Not only is he benevolent and virtuous-I would call him a sage!" Confucius esteemed altruistic deeds. He urged people to love indiscriminatingly, regardless of kinship or blood, advocating "universal love." Mencius (c. 372-289 B.C.) exhorted successful individuals to dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of society-more highly influential Chinese philosophy on universal love that could benefit all humankind.

Essentially, Deliver Big Benefits for the People is an altruistic philosophy based on the idea that me and others are fundamentally a whole. Rather than divorcing the two, individuals should seek to help others succeed because it advances their own interests as well. China has steadfastly pursued peaceful development and maintained commitment to mutual benefits and development through cooperation. We earnestly fulfill our role as a responsible major country by supporting third-world countries in their socio-economic development, demonstrating this very concept in action.

博施众利

博施众利出自《论语·雍也》,意思是要广泛地帮助他人,给更多人带来好处。孔子(前551—前479)的弟子子贡问:“假若有这么一个人,广泛地给人民以好处,又能帮助大家生活得很好,怎么样?可以说是仁道了吗?”孔子回答:“哪里仅是仁道!那一定是圣德了!”可见孔子高度肯定利他行为。孔子主张“泛爱众”,即突破亲情血缘限制,去关爱更多的人。孟子(约前372—前289)主张“达则兼善天下”,同样表达了中华民族崇尚博施众利的品德和胸怀。

博施众利本质上是一种利他观念,其理念基础是自己与他人在根本意义上是一个整体,因此就不应过分强调二者的分别,而是要明白帮助他人也就是成就自己。中国坚定不移走和平发展道路,倡导互利共赢、合作发展,积极发挥负责任大国的作用,帮助第三世界国家的经济发展与社会进步, 正是“博施众利”思想的体现。

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