The basic meaning of the term is love for others. Its extended meaning refers to
the state of harmony among people, and the unity of all things under heaven.
Ren (仁) constitutes the foundation and basis for moral behavior. It is also a
consciousness that corresponds to the norms of moral behavior. Roughly put,
ren has the following three implications: 1) compassion or conscience; 2) virtue
of respect built upon the relationship between fathers and sons and among
brothers; and 3) the unity of all things under heaven. Confucianism holds ren as
the highest moral principle. Ren is taken as love in the order of first showing filial
piety to one's parents and elder brothers, and then extending love and care to
other members of the family, and eventually to everyone else under heaven.