Cheng (誠) as ecological self-understanding: Realistic or impossible?

Education for Sustainability Meets Confucianism in Science Education

“…Nevertheless, research papers concerning other educational levels were also concerned as references for gaining general and common ideas. Cheng, 2012Cheng, , 2013Feng & Newton, 2012;Hsu, 2015;Tu, 1998Tu, , 2001Li et al, 2016b;Mok, 2020;Tucker, 2017;Tucker, 1991;Wu, 2019;Xu et al, 2014;Yu, 2007;Zeng & Liu, 2002;Zhao, 2019;Zhuang, 2015 Confucianism…”

“…In terms of sustainability, righteousness can be related, e.g., to respect norms for resources protection and societal sustainability. -Propriety guides humans to have proper actions or interactions with others and the environment for avoiding conflicts based on social rituals and manners (Meyer et al, 2017;Wu, 2019). It is "the ritualized body language of benevolence" (Bockover, 2012, p. 180), and its most significant mission is to attain harmony (Cheng, 2012).…”

“…The concept of sincerity (cheng) is understood as the starting and the return point of one's ethical self-cultivation and the highest virtue of Confucianism (Yu, 2007). Sincerity is not only a process but also a state (Wu, 2019;Yu, 2007). Sincerity contains one's self-actualization and the completion of all things; it can support humans to gain the self-understanding of environmental concerns in the ideal and real life (Wu, 2019).…”

On narcissist leadership and authenticity: Moving towards an ecological understanding of the self

“…Contrary to the neoliberal view on individuals as detached competitors and the emphasis on free market and economic efficiency, the Confucian concept of authenticity, cheng (誠) posits that individuals are integral to each other and broad contexts: communities, society, and the cosmos. The common good is the ultimate goal that brings about the fulfillment and actualisation of individuals (Wu, 2019). Confucianism insists on the integration of actions and rhetoric, the self and the collective.…”

“…The ultimate goal for the Confucian leader is to lead everyone towards the world of Datong. The insistence on Dao and achieving Datong points to adhering to an ideal beyond oneself, beyond material or short-term gains (Wu, 2019). As Confucius stated, wealth and fame obtained without virtue are as valueless as floating cloud (不義而富且貴、於我如浮雲) (The Analects,1.16).…”