Question

Although Confucius taught that rulers must value the lives of those in their care, if they did need to call for men to serve as military soldiers, what virtue would this give the men a chance to show?

1) ren
2) li
3) filial piety
4) yi

Answer 1

Confucius' teachings on rulers valuing their subjects' lives, when calling for military service, present an opportunity for soldiers to demonstrate the virtue of yi, signifying righteousness.

Step-by-step explanation:

While Confucius taught that rulers should value the lives of those in their care, calling for men to serve as military soldiers provided an opportunity to demonstrate the virtue of yi, meaning righteousness. This virtue involves doing the right thing, especially in the context of moral actions and justice, which includes fulfilling one's duties to the state. In Confucian thought, a balance is expected between personal obligations to family, represented by filial piety, and to the state. Military service, where one is defending the state, therefore offers an expression of the virtue of yi, aligning the individual's actions with righteousness and moral propriety.