Pros and Cons of Confucian Values and Their Shaping of Mainland China University Students' Mental State

• In Event: 29.090 - Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: 29.090-23 - Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Education in the 21st Century

Abstract

This article examines the pro and con of Confucius values and their shaping of Mainland China university students mental state from the Spranger’s 6 levels of value perspective. Several approaches will be used to uncover the deep linkage of student’s mental state and Confucius values. The pro of Confucius value is such things like valuing education, respecting teacher, diligent, etc. while the con of it is instrumentalism, authoritarianism, leading to narrow minded learning for test, students lack of critical thinking and initiatives, lack of intrinsic motivation for study, etc. Today’s Chinese students will mostly pursue economic value, the instrumental value, following the tide, but most other values are omitted, or not recognized. That’s the very problem of students’ mental state.

Authors

• Zhang Lei, Tsinghua University

• Wang Xiaoyang, Tsinghua University