哲学 Synthesis Paper: 1C

哲学

What is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy…

1. by Confucius…

C. in the way he characterises the ideal human being?

The Confucian belief system can be seen as both diverse and practical. Diverse, because it does not only rely on one subject but it also consider others like governance, education, rituals, social relations, so on and so forth. Practical, because it requires an individual to actively apply the Confucian beliefs and virtues as it is helpful and no-nonsense for the human society. But within these “categories” lie the exemplary man who exudes goodness and has the capacity and the virtues to lead the and live the right life. 

Wisdom and intelligence, propriety, righteousness, altruism and conscientiousness, filial piety and brotherly respect, goodness, and above all, human-heartedness embodies the ideal human being. The idealised ultimate human being in the Confucian sense exhibits virtues and behaviour that promotes the welfare of the society. Regardless of one’s position in the society, the person who strives hard in order to achieve such virtues above would be the idealised human being for Confucius. 

Starting with his own self, he should be well equipped in the matters of the mind. Wisdom, goodness, and intelligence assumes this department. Knowing oneself and knowing others is but a great step towards the formation of these values. According to Confucius, man is born with uprightness. Indeed, he is. But this does not end here. This natural goodness can be lost if forgotten. This natural goodness of man can disappear if not maintained. Thus, this basic goodness can be preserved through his own efforts to do what is good not only to himself but also to others. By going back to the Analects, one can see that chih and goodness and intelligence of man covers self-preservation and stretches out to education, social relations, and leadership. 

As an individual who promotes the welfare of the society, the ideal human person also takes note of propriety as it establishes harmony (Analect 1:12). Rituals and traditions are of great importance to the ideal man. Li also keeps the ideal man in check as it lists down what should be and what should not be done. With propriety, thing will go amiss and the results would inevitably be the opposite of what an ideal human being is working for. An ideal human person follows the rules of propriety and tradition, that it to say that he is also righteous. And as he is intelligent and endowed with wisdom, he has the capacity to discern what is right from what is wrong. The Confucian Philosophy puts forward that these virtues should be actively practiced. For the ideal man, knowing what is right and wrong is one but it should continue- the ideal man should be able to correct what is wrong. Being learned does not only stop at knowing a lot of things. Being learned means that one can apply his knowledge to anything and that he is able to deliberate his actions and his thoughts. 

An ideal man is also a person for others. As he knows what is right, he acts well with others. Altruism and conscientiousness can be seen as a guide as to how one should associate with the other. He is one who examines himself. “Have I been good today?” “Did I treat my neighbour right?” So on and so forth. In a sense, these questions can be taken in another perspective: “How should I treat my neighbour?” As altruism and conscientiousness go hand in hand, the ideal human being is one who keeps it that way. 

A family completes the community. As such, the characteristic of an ideal human person in the Confucian mode is one who his filial to his family and respectful to his brothers. Obedience and respect to one’s elders and brothers cultivate one’s character that can greatly impact his relations towards other people. Obedience and respect are the proper virtues that one should cultivate because they are right and good. Being respectful to another means that there is no harm in one’s interaction with another. There are the values of altruism and conscientiousness in one’s treatment to his elders and his brothers. 

Like a tree, the values of wisdom, filial piety and brotherly respect, propriety, altruism and conscientiousness, and righteousness, among others, serves as the branches for the ideal human person. Its roots goes deep down into the heart of the Tao and the overall product benefits and helps the society.  

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