L11: Confucius

Confucius is a latin form of Kung Fu Tzu (551479 BCE) Lived during the Zhou Dynasty but it was during the Han Dynasty that Confuciuss and Menciuss (Mengzi) teachings were incorporated in the system of governance. All government officers had to study Confuciuss thinking in order to be a government servant. This was replaced only when the Communist took over in China.

 Lecture 11 The views of Confucius regarding Ethics Ren Xiao (fillial piety) Chun-tzu The views of Mencius regarding Ethics & Morals

Confucianism
In Confucius ethics, An action is moral if done for its own sake. No consideration for its consequences Thus action is to be done: a categorical imperative. Few actions considered to be of this importance : Jen / ren [goodness, benevolence]; yi, li and xiao.

Confucius and Ethics

Actions which are characterised by ren, yi, li and xiao are those actions to be done for its intrinsic value. Ren (jen) : benevolence, goodness, love for others, altruism (regard for others and humanity) Yi : righteousness, correct action or duty or obligation to do the correct action.

Confucian Ethics
Behind Confuciuss pursuit of the ideal moral character lies the unspoken and therefore unquestioned assumption that the only purpose a man can have and also the only worthwhile thing a man can do is to become as good a man possible. This is something that has to be pursued for its own sake and with complete indiference to success or failure [Lau, The Analects]

Ethics and Morals

Since being moral one can neither be assured of a reward nor guaranteed success, morality has to be pursued for its own sake. This is perhaps the most fundamental message in Confuciuss teachings, a message that distinguished his teachings from other schools of thought in ancient China [Lau, The Analects]

Jen / Ren
Confucius says: A person who is loving (ren) will do the actions which are humanly because he wishes to do it while a person who is wise will only do the humanly act because he believes he will get the benefit from that action

Xiao (Fillial Piety)

Yu Tzu said, It is rare for a man whose character is such that he is good as a son and obedient as a young man to have the inclination to transgress against superiors; it is unheard of for one who has no such inclination to be inclined to start a rebellionBeing good as a son and obedient as a young man is perhaps the root of mans character [Analects] Xiao : Obeying everyone who is superior to us, including older persons and those of higher social standing. Also obedience to the rulers or emperor.

A Moral Action
An action to be considered moral must satisfy two main conditions:
(a) done for its own sake or they are categorical imperatives (b) they are based on principles which are universal

Universal Principles
There are two main conditions for universality to be valid for the moral action:
No one is exempted from the rule The rule is applied equally to everyone who is the object of the action i.e. no bias or preference.

Textual Evidences
Confucius said: Every human being has to regard virtue as his responsibility/duty. He cannot pass it to someone else though that person is his teacher In regards to education, we should not divide men to different classes I have never denied instruction to anyone who of his own accord has given me so much as a bundle of dried meat as a gift

Chun-Tzu & Chung

Two further concepts equal importance in Confucian system are junzi (chun-tzu) and chong (chung). Chun is the most general term for ruler and a chun-tzu is a son of a ruler. The term was applied to descendants of the ruling house in any state and so came to mean gentleman, member of the upper classes. But the gentleman is bound by a particular code of morals and manners, so that the word chun-tzu implies not merely superiority of birth but also superiority of character and behaviour

Chun-tzu & Chung

He who follows the way of the Chun-Tzu is a chun-tzu, while he who follows the way of small i.e. common people is common (xiao ren). [Confucius] A chun-tzu would have all the moral qualities discussed before i.e. ren, yi, li and xiao.

Mencius
The heart of compassion is the germ of benevolence [Ren]; the heart of shame of dutifulness [Yi]; the heart of courtesy and modesty of observance of the rites [Li]; the heart of right and wrong of wisdom. Man has these four germs just as he has four limbs. For a man possessing these four germs to deny his own potentialities is for him to cripple himself [Mencius, II, A6]

Mencius
We are all born with the potential for morally good action. The capacity for moral action is Innate and is part of human nature (Xing). We are all born with the capacity to feel certain emotions that cause moral actions

Mencius
Most important emotions to moral actions: (i) Heart of compassion : Ren (ii) Heart of shame : Yi (iii) Heart of courtesy (respect) : Li (iv) Heart of right and wrong : Wisdom Ren, Yi, Li and Wisdom are four cardinal virtues according to Mencius.

Mencius
One swallow does not make a summer Just by having these emotions do not make a person a good person or a person who has acquired the 4 virtues. These emotions or impulsions CAN motivate behaviour. They need to be developed and nurtured further until it becomes a permanent feature i.e. become a virtue.

Taoism
Protest against Confucius rejected the conservatism, literalism and moral rigidity. Taoist also share with Confucius in the positive view of human ethical potential. In Lao Tzus Tao Te Ching, moral power (te) is regarded as so integral and natural to humans that to seek, to nurture, instruct it is to injure it. Imposition of moral values upon people will obscure their innate sense of what is right.

Taoism
In reality dao is a form of an ethical code in Taoist teachings. Tao is the way of ultimate reality Those who know dont say, and those who say dont know Tao is immanent (it is the way of the universe, the driving power in all nature) Tao the way man should order his life

Taoism
Rejects all forms of self-assertiveness and competition. Taoism has little use for ambition of wanting to be somebody etc. They prefer humility and not arrogance Surrounded by treasure, You lie ill at ease, proud beyond measure, You come to your knees, Do enough without vieing, Be living not dying

Taoism
Man should avoid being strident and aggressive not only toward other man but also towards nature. Those who would take over the earth, and shape it to their will, Never I notice succeed. The earth is like a vessel so sacred that at the mere approach of the profane it is marred and when they reach out their fingers it is gone.

Yin and Yang

Notion of relativity of all values, this polarity sums up lifes basic oppositions good-evil, active-passive, light-dark, malefemale etc. These principles balance and complements each other. Life turns and bends back upon itself until the self comes full-circle and knows that at the centre all things are one.