Author(s)

Bing Yang

Corresponding Author

Bing Yang

Abstract

Modernity mainly refers the characteristics of the times shaped by the modernization process from the traditional agricultural society to the modern industrial society. Also, modernity can be defined as modern capitalism constructed by the market economy, the individualistic spirit, the highly developed instrumental rationality and other factors. Modernity brings advanced technology, institutions and concepts to society, and makes mankind move towards a higher civilization, while it also brings a lot of negative things, one of which is spiritual crisis. That is to say, modernity has brought mankind out of the external "cage" and into the inner "prison". This is one of the contradictions that human beings can never avoid; Western scholars have done active treatment from different levels, and Confucianism also responds accordingly based on its deep historical accumulation and cultural and social training. Confucianism or Confucian thoughts have contributed traditional order factors and positive adaptive ability in the process of modernization in China, and have gained new moral functions in the new environment of modernization. Confucianism and its built lifestyle still maintain the vitality inherent in China and has so far exerted its influence. So, whether Confucianism or Confucian thoughts can deal with the core issue of the modernity crisis---the loss of life or the meaning of life will be a question that is extremely practical and needs to be answered. This paper attempts to demonstrate the tolerance of Confucianism by examining the modernity and its crisis and comparing it with Western philosophy to examine the possible attitudes of Confucianism based on its ideological and lifestyle resources, to highlight the tolerance of Confucianism and the wise and great gesture of its self-contained integration into modernity.

Keywords

Modernity, Spiritual Crisis, Individualism, Confucianism