Mutual Learning among Civilizations and Overburdened ‘Sociability’: A Review of Morality and Responsibility of Rulers: European and Chinese Origins of a Rule of Law as Justice for World Order

Morality and Responsibility of Rulers: European and Chinese Origins of a Rule of Law as Justice for World Order is a jointly compiled work by two European scholars. It reaffirms the significance of the idea of natural justice proposed by thinkers in ancient, medieval, and early modern Europe. In the sense of being anti-Hobbesian, it attempts to form a certain united front between ancient Chinese thought and European ideas of natural justice. This book not only re-examines and reflects on the theoretical foundation of international law but also represents an intellectual practice in the exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. However, in addition to presenting various theoretical resources in history that expound on the natural sociability of human beings, the editors may enhance the comprehensiveness and depth of their work by conducting necessary analysis and explanation of the historical limitations of these theoretical resources themselves, pointing out that the proposition of natural sociability does not necessarily imply an international order of equality, freedom, and the rule of law but may also be used to establish exclusion, domination, and exploitation.