How should we understand the relationship between the individual and the common good?

Yang Chaoming, a distinguished professor of the Advanced Institute for Confucian Studies at Shandong University, shared his insights into Confucius' thought and its relevance to the world today during the 2026 Nishan Forum on World Civilizations held on Sept 28-29 in Qufu, Shandong province.

In his view, self-cultivation and working for the common good go hand in hand. When individuals cultivate themselves as members of a collective, they are contributing to the common good. If everyone works for the common good, he said, the world can become more harmonious.

Yang said Confucius' thought, in this respect, speaks to the conscience of humanity and the pursuit of justice and order, offering insights into building a more harmonious and orderly world.