(Editor’s Note: This article reflects the views of the author, Suzon Gaborieau, and not necessarily those of CGTN.)
The 2025 China International Confucius Cultural Festival, an international cultural event jointly organized by the People’s Government of Shandong Province, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, will be held on September 27 and 28 in Qufu, Shandong Province.
Confucianism, founded by Confucius, and the Confucian thought that developed from it have profoundly influenced China’s development. They have also played a positive role in the progress of human civilization. In my view, Confucian culture offers a possible path for humanity to address shared challenges in the contemporary era.
The “High-Level Week” of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is currently taking place at UN headquarters. Within this framework, a Climate Action Summit and a meeting on AI governance were held, the latter aiming to “ensure that human agency is preserved and that AI becomes a force for good,” according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. These current events reflect the common challenges humanity faces today.
In the face of such upheavals, the thinking of an ancient sage may seem outdated. Yet, although Confucius could not have foreseen climate change or issues related to artificial intelligence, his philosophy—centered on balance, responsibility, and social harmony—offers an ethical framework that is surprisingly relevant to the challenges of the 21st century.
Confucian thought revolves around several key concepts, including “humanity” (ren 仁). It encompasses benevolence, empathy, concern for others’ well-being, as well as filial piety and reciprocity.
Applied to contemporary challenges such as AI governance, ren could mean that AI systems should be designed to enhance human capabilities, to serve humanity rather than replace or manipulate it. This implies avoiding excessive automation that leads to dehumanization and job loss. Moreover, ren values others’ well-being, which could mean involving citizens in debates on AI ethics.
Ren also resonates in the fight against climate change and the pursuit of sustainable development. In line with the Confucian idea of filial piety extended to the human community, acting for the climate today is a moral duty toward future generations. The famous quote from the Analects of Confucius—“Do not do to others what you would not want done to yourself”—is especially relevant here. Developed countries, as major CO₂ emitters, should ask themselves: “Would we accept the consequences of our actions if we were a vulnerable island nation?”
More broadly, ren promotes social harmony through dialogue. In today’s world, this means encouraging international cooperation and multilateralism to address major challenges, as seen during the High-Level Week. Additionally, moderation and the pursuit of the “golden mean” (zhongyong 中庸) is a method for embodying ren: acting with measure, balance, and adaptability, avoiding excess or deficiency. This principle aligns with calls for energy sobriety and responsible use of technology.
Confucian ren thus offers an ethical framework for global challenges: it reminds us that technological progress and ecology must serve humanity and collective harmony. It transforms these challenges into moral imperatives: to act for others and seek moderation.
Another Confucian principle applicable to contemporary challenges is zhi 智, which places intelligence at the service of human virtue (ren). Confucian thought distinguishes between “knowledge” and “wisdom.” The former involves accumulating information, which is useless without the latter—wisdom—defined as moral discernment and the ability to act for the good. It is, in essence, about acquiring knowledge to improve society.
The rise of artificial intelligence involves not only technical skills but also ethical choices (algorithmic bias, privacy, accountability for errors, etc.). Here, AI could be used to enhance access to knowledge by cultivating creativity and critical thinking. Zhi also encourages understanding social impacts before acting, steering innovation toward the common good rather than mere profitability. Imagine a startup developing AI systems for agriculture. Without zhi, it maximizes short-term yields, collects data without consent, and sells its services to the highest bidder. With zhi, it asks, “What will the impacts be?” and designs algorithms that promote sustainable practices preserving water and soil. This aligns with the modern concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which refers to “companies’ responsibility for the effects they have on society” and encourages them to have a positive impact while remaining economically viable. If CSR is the modern framework for corporate action, could zhi be its essential ethical substance? One is the structure, the other the spirit that animates it.
From a climate perspective, zhi would first urge us to grasp the complexity and severity of the threat (scientific causes, economic implications, social injustices), to identify harmful behaviors (such as greenwashing), and finally to act by considering long-term sustainable solutions that benefit nature and future generations. Let’s apply this “knowledge, discernment, action” model to a concrete ecological project: the Great Green Wall in Africa. This initiative, presented by the African Union, aims to plant trees over more than 8,000 km to combat desertification in the Sahel region. In terms of knowledge, scientists have identified desertification and studied its causes (deforestation, unsustainable farming practices) and consequences (loss of biodiversity, food insecurity, water scarcity, urban sprawl). Thanks to a form of zhi, they realized that simply planting trees was not enough. A solution must restore ecosystems while improving people’s lives. Action: the Great Green Wall is more than a line of trees. Despite obstacles that still hinder progress, strategies have been redefined. The project promotes sustainable land management and has created jobs and resources. The species planted reflect local community preferences. While the expected results have yet to be fully achieved, the human context has been taken into account.
Whether it’s harnessing the power of artificial intelligence or combating the climate emergency, zhi reminds us that technical knowledge is futile—even dangerous—without the wisdom that guides it. This practical wisdom requires a threefold commitment: deep understanding of the issues, moral discernment to distinguish the common good from short-term private interests, and responsible action that considers social and environmental consequences.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s call to make AI “a force for good” resonates strongly with Confucian wisdom. As the international community gathers to address today’s challenges, Confucius’s philosophy proves to be a reservoir of wisdom with striking relevance. In the face of technological and ecological complexity, the concepts of ren and zhi offer an indispensable ethical framework. Ren reminds us that all technological innovation and climate action must serve humanity and future generations, embodying moral responsibility. Zhi, in turn, urges us to put this benevolence into action through enlightened discernment, favoring sustainable and equitable solutions over purely technical responses.
(Photo: VCG)