China Social Science Review

No.3, 2024

Chinese and Western Views of “Lun” and “Norms”

(Abstract)

Gao Herong

The construction of an autonomous knowledge system in Chinese sociology cannot be separated from the comparison of local and Western concepts. The two foundational concepts of “lun” in classical Chinese qunxue and “norms” in Western sociology also have the possibility of comparison. “Lun” and “norms” both need to establish the principles of relationship with the group of people in line with the category, so as to guide or constrain the social behavior of human beings. On the one hand, there is a distinction between the two. “Lun” originally originated from “human feelings,” mainly manifested in the specialism attributes of ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, brother and friend, etc., while “norms” are mainly based on “rationality” and have a universalist position. On the other hand, the two are complementary, with “lun” having the nature of moving towards universalism in different historical periods, thus exhibits its relevance with “norms” as a concept of universalism, while “norms” have to make up for the insufficiency of instrumental rationality and individualism through the moral sentiment of “lun.” “Lun” is the embodiment of the characteristics and heritage of Chinese civilization, and helps to enhance the global influence of the Chinese sociological discourse.