Confucianism
Confucianism is a system of thought and behavior, sometimes viewed as a philosophy and sometimes as a religion, originating from the teachings of the Chinese Confucius (551–479 BC).
Confucianism and East Asian measured average high IQ and favorable outcomes
The influence of Confucianism on East Asians is sometimes claimed to be an important explanation for a high average measured IQ and various forms of favorable outcomes.
This is a more politically correct explanation than genetics, but a less politically correct explanation than explanations such as socioeconomic factors, since it implies that all cultures are not equal.
One problem is that there are various other philosophies and/or religions in East Asian countries and many East Asians do not adhere to Confucianism. Supporters of the importance of Confucianism may possibly argue that Confucianism has had an unclear general influence on all East Asian countries, but such an explanation cannot not apply to East Asians in non-East Asian countries, where they also score high on average on IQ tests.
There also studies on in the West adopted East Asian children, who on average score highly, despite presumably having no or very little influence from Confucianism. See Race and intelligence: The genetics or not debate: Adaptions.
Furthermore, Confucianism was previously more much influential than it is now, but East Asian countries were then much less advanced compared to Western countries than they are now. Rather than being viewed positively, Confucianism was often seen as a major negative factor stunting East Asian development.
See also
- China: Pro-China organizations in other countries - On "Confucius Institutes".
- Other race differences: Visual memory - Regarding another claimed beneficial East Asian cultural effect, more narrowly on visual memory.