Which ethical and philosophical tradition emphasizes filial piety and social harmony?

• A. Confucianism
• B. Buddhism
• C. Taoism
• D. Sikhism

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how a tradition organizes ethics around family loyalty and social harmony. In Confucianism, filial piety is foundational: children honor and obey their parents, and this respect extends into broader social conduct, helping maintain order and harmony through well-ordered relationships, ritual propriety, and the cultivation of virtuous character. That emphasis on respecting family as a microcosm of society and using that respect to foster a harmonious, orderly community is what makes Confucianism stand out for this question.

Other traditions center on different aims. Buddhism focuses on overcoming suffering and attaining enlightenment. Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with the natural order and the Tao. Sikhism stresses devotion to God, equality, and service to others within a community. While each can contribute to social harmony in its own way, the strong, explicit linking of familial piety to social harmony is distinctive of Confucian thought.