Limits of Scripture and Limits of Reason: On Confucianism and 'Scriptural Reasoning'

This article is about scriptural reasoning, a relatively new trend in philosophical theology, and more specifically about the possibility of including Confucianism in this endeavor. Scriptural reasoning is an explicitly normative endeavor arguably claiming value at three different levels: (1) a better understanding of one's own scriptural tradition, (2) increased wisdom through inter-faith dialogue and (3) redemption for all humanity The question whether Confucianism could be participating in scriptural reasoning may accordingly be answered differently relative to these three normative levels To approximate an answer, I proceed by subjecting the notion of a "Confucian scripture" to a conceptual analysis based on the English word "scripture" and based on the Chinese character jing, which is frequently said to be the classical Chinese equivalent of English "scripture." The conceptual analysis will allow for some comparative observations and will prepare the ground for a critical assessment of the possibility of including Confucianism within practices of scriptural reasoning.