the xunzi as the basis of a metarational ruling ideology

The ancients, in wishing to display enlightened virtue in the world, first brought good order to their states. Wishing to bring good order to their states, they first regulated their households. Wishing to regulate their households, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first rectified their minds. Wishing to rectify their minds, they first made their intentions pure. Wishing to make their intentions pure, they first perfected their knowledge. Perfecting knowledge lies in coming to things.

Come to things, and subsequently knowledge is perfected. Make knowledge perfect, and subsequently intentions are made pure. Make intentions pure, and subsequently the mind is rectified. Rectify the mind, and subsequently the self is cultivated. Cultivate the self, and subsequently the household is regulated. Regulate the household, and subsequently the state is brought to good order. Bring good order to the state, and subsequently the world is at peace.

From the Son of Heaven down to the ordinary people everyone without exception should take cultivation of the self as the root. It is not possible for this root to be in disorder but the branches to be well ordered. It should never be the case that what is important is trivialized or what is trivial is given importance. This is called knowing the root; this is called the perfection of knowledge.

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