The Concept of Wei-Yu and Its Implication to the Absolutist-Relativist Debate of Institutionalism

The article delves into the Confucian concept of “Wei-Yu” and its relevance to the absolutist-relativist debate within institutionalism. It traces the origins of Wei-Yu in ancient Chinese literature and its development through Confucian philosophy, emphasizing its role in self-cultivation and moral behavior. The concept is portrayed as a means-ends continuum, resonating with institutionalist values such as practical rationality and instrumental value. The article highlights how Wei-Yu’s focus on adaptation and the generic ends of life parallels institutionalist principles of life-process continuity and community re-creation. It also discusses the modern interpretation of Wei-Yu by Guangdan Pan, who viewed it as a flexible criterion for individual and societal valuation, stressing pragmatism and progress. Relativism essentially erects theoretical barriers to the exercise of practical rationality across cultural contexts and prevents the instrumental value from transcending the boundaries of knowledge. Therefore, the article argues that the universality of practical rationality is not confined to institutionalism and that cultural differences should not cover the commonalities among cultures.