TheessayscollectedinthisvolumeestablishConfucianroleethicsasatermofartinthecontemporaryethicaldiscourse.Theholisticphilosophypresentedhereisgroundedintheprimacyofrelationalityandanarrativeunderstandingofperson,andisachallengetoafoundationalliberalindividualismthathasdefinedpersonsasdiscrete,autonomous,rational,free,andoftenself-interestedagents.Confucianroleethicsbeginsfromarelationallyconstitutedconceptionofperson,takesfamilyrolesandrelationsastheentrypointfordevelopingmoralcompetence,invokesmoralimaginationandthegrowthinrelationsthatitcaninspireasthesubstanceofhumanmorality,andentailsahuman-centered,atheisticreligiousnessthatstandsinsharpcontrasttotheAbrahamicreligions.
