Historical Who is Who
OGYU SORA
1666 - 1672
JAPAN
PHILOSOPHY
Influential Confucian scholar who argued that the principles set out in classical texts on the ancient way provide sure ground on which to engage with the reality of change while avoiding the perils of moral relativism. He challenged the view that the self-cultivation of moral autonomy will be successful; human life is not naturally good, but rather infected with intrinsic evil. Instead he stressed the need for the belonging and binding of social and political institutions.