Individual Autonomy and Responsibility in Late Imperial China By ...

pluralism, minorities, dissent, and balance of independent powers of the state.

Whether the previous considerations are accepted or not, they may stimulate further reflections on the rich experiences and solutions offered by Confucianism over the centuries, beyond the idealization of sages and harmony, and may illuminate how we can update Confucianism in contemporary society and its contributions to issues of freedom and democracy. It would be very useful if the Confucius Institutes in many universities could discuss these critical topics. The quest for truly comprehensive and sustainable development in a society which is becoming increasingly global and where distances between nations are less and less relevant needs to be grounded in human universals of tolerance and autonomy instead of in parochial perspectives. Social practice and evolving tradition—especially considering the contribution of certain minor but seminal trends of Confucianism—can be shared by different cultures and inform the necessary enforcement of international institutions.