Confucius: The Secular as Sacred

Confucius: The Secular as Sacred by philosopher Herbert Fingarette was a milestone in the study of the ancient Chinese sage Confucius when it was published fifty years ago, and it remains required reading for anyone interested in Chinese or comparative philosophy today. This modern classic of Confucian interpretation by Fingarette, one of the most eminent philosophers of his day, sparked an intellectual revolution and has inspired generations of sinologists since its publication.

While remaining scrupulously faithful to the text of the Analects of Confucius, the book discerns the deepest meaning of Confucius’ thought and examines its application to the present day. By exploring the Analects, Fingarette invites us to reconsider what makes life worth living. In the words of one scholar, it is as if Fingarette holds a magical key to the profound insights of Confucius. As Fingarette said in his Preface, “Confucius can be a teacher to us today… He tells us things not being said elsewhere; things needing to be said. He has a new lesson to teach.” Confucius: The Secular as Sacred succeeds, as few books do, to recall us to our humanity. Readers will leave the book changed by it.