Includes bibliographical references and index.

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Wiley, viewed on September 13, 2013).

This highly original work introduces the ideas and arguments of the ancient Chinese philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism to some of the most intractable social issues of modern American life, including abortion, gay marriage, and assisted suicide. Introduces the precepts of ancient Chinese philosophers to issues they could not have anticipatedRelates Daoist and Confucian ideas to problems across the arc of modern human life, from birth to deathProvides general readers with a fascinating introduction to Chinese philosophy, and its continued relevance.

Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Chapter 1 Key Concepts of Confucianism and Daoism; An ancient Chinese sensibility; Confucianism; Daoism; Notes; Chapter 2 Birth; Confucianism on the beginning of life and abortion; Daoism on the beginning of life and abortion; Confucianism and Daoism on in vitro fertilization; Confucianism and Daoism on stem cell research; Notes; Chapter 3 Childhood; Confucian childhood; Daoist childhood; Confucian and Daoist parenting; When children do bad; Notes; Chapter 4 Work; Confucians and work; Daoists and work; Notes.

Chapter 5 Marriage and FamilyConfucians on marriage and family; Daoists on marriage and family; Same-sex marriage?; Confucian and Daoist understandings of divorce; Notes; Chapter 6 Public and Political Life; Confucian leadership; Daoist leadership; The question of democracy; Notes; Chapter 7 End of Life; Confucianism on death and dying; Daoism on death and dying; Mourning; Notes; Index.