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CONFUCIUS & CONFUCIANISM

WHO IS CONFUCIUS?

PHILOSOPHER

551 – 479 BC

ALL of religions use the

GOLDEN RULE

to summarize their ethical teachings.

Defined Chinese Society for the past 2000 years

LU

(Modern day Shandong Province)

Confucius felt he had a mission to

return China to its former glory, to

return to the 'Way' or Dao.

Dao -culture of self-cultivation and emphasis on the way of virtue

Confucianism is very much a philosophy for those living in society

Buddhism and Daoism stress withdrawing from the world to seek spiritual enlightenment.

He was never employed in any significant government post during his lifetime.

300 years after his death, Confucianism was adopted as China's state philosophy. 

IRONIC

CONFUCIANISM’S

ADVOCACY

PROMOTES HARMONY AMIDST CHANGE

The embeddedness of each person in concentric circles of relationships and ethical

responsibilities

1.The importance of family (past,

present & future)

2. The function of a hierarchical

social system

3. The significance of

education

4. The role of government in

establishing a political bureaucracy

4 Key Elements of the

Confucian Worldview

Anthropocosmicthe great  triad 1. heaven (a guiding force), 2. earth (nature),3. humans

Organic Holismthe universe is

seen as unified, interconnected,

and interpenetrating

Dynamic Vitalismbasis of the

underlying unity of reality which is

constituted

of ch’i, the material force of the

universe

Comprehensive Ethics humans are biological-historical-ethical beings who live in a universe of complex correspondences and relationships. 

Essential Teachings

The main core of

Confucianism is humanism

It focuses on the

importance of life and all

that affects it such as the

family

It does not focus on the belief of the afterlife and of gods

Philosophies

Religion?

Ethical Code

"To devote oneself earnestly to one's duty to humanity, and while respecting the spirits, to keep aloof from them, may be called wisdom."

Agnostic who believed in spirits and the supernatural but was not interested in them

Built on the foundational

belief that man is basically good.

Teachings:*Morality*The importance of justice, sincerity and filial piety - the duty of every son to serve his parents.

ANALECTS

Five Classic

s

defined as "Utilitarianism" by John

Stuart Mills

Five Constants

(五常 )

Ren(仁 , being humane)

Best expressed by the golden rule or the ethic of reciprocity.

Political dimension: makes rulers take care of subjects

Yi 義 :upholding of

righteousness and the moral

disposition to do good.

Li 禮 :Following/respecting of etiquette and norms of daily life

Zhi 智 : “He who learns but

does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in

great danger.”Education is very important for him.

Xin 信 :Refers to keeping one’s word and being faithful to it. (not to gods, but to one’s words, tasks, etc.)

Four Virtues(五常 )

Zhong 忠 :One should be loyal to their superiors and vice versa.

Jie 節 :One must exercise self control.

Xiao 孝 :Children must respect their parents, but a child has a duty to dispute with his/her parents if necessary

Yi 義 :The same as the one in the five constants, which is the moral disposition to do good.

Yi 義 :The same as the one in the five constants, which is the moral disposition to do good.

Contributions of

Confusianism

Public policiesFamily codesRelationship ethicsEducationGovernment

Influenced the Chinese people to respect their

leaders and their leaders to

set a good example as

well

Explained humanity as ‘to love the people’ and

‘to love the masses extensively’

Development of everyone’s potential ability’

Filial Piety

Influenced the ‘Neo-Confucianism’ by Zhu-Xi

Bye.