Over at A Ku Indeed Chris asks about Mencius 4A28, in which
Mencius commends Shun for transforming his father. He (Shun)
considered that if one could not get the hearts of his parents
he could not be considered a man, and that if he could not get
to an entire accord with his parents, he could not be considered
a son. By Shun’s completely fulfilling everything by which a
parent could be served, Gu Sou was brought to find delight in
what was good. When Gu Sou was brought to find that delight, the
whole kingdom was transformed. When Gu Sou was brought to find
that delight, all fathers and sons in the kingdom were
established in their respective duties…This is called great
filial piety” So is Shun (or Mencius) serious? Is a son not a
son if he fails to transform his father/mother? Are the virtues
that embody “being a son” incomplete if they are not mirrored by
the virtues involved in being a dad? (I presume this holds in
the reverse direction for sons, too).” Rather than focus on what
Mencius is trying to proscri