Confucius and the Analects. New essays

Confucius is one of the most influential figures - as historical individual and as symbol - in world history; and the Analects, or sayings attributed to Confucius and his disciples, is a classic of world literature. Nonetheless, how to understand both figure and text is constantly under dispute.In this text, contributors apply a variety of different methodologies (including philosophical, philological, and religious) and address a number of important topics, from Confucius and Western virtue ethics, to Confucius´ attitude toward women, to the historical composition of the text of the Analects.