哲学 Synthesis Paper: 1D

哲学

What is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy…

1. by Confucius…

D. in the way he lays out the steps of self-cultivation?

The elevation of man, for Confucius is approached with a process. A process that, when achieved, justifies the footing of man in the society. In The Great Learning, Confucius revealed the steps for the self-cultivation of man that starts with the individual himself and ends in the expanse of the world—when things are investigated, knowledge is extended; when knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere; when the will is sincere, the mind is rectified; when the mind is rectified, the personal life is cultivated; when the personal life is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order; and when the state is in order, there will be peace throughout the world (Chan, 1963, p. 86-87). Confucius deemed that the cultivation of man is important. A man without character and virtue and does not strive to “renovate” himself is not a superior man. 

The first step, for Confucius, lies in the investigation of things. Failure to do so would prevent one form extending his knowledge and in turn prevents him from ever becoming a worthy man. In order to fully cultivate oneself, Confucius puts forwards that, before anythings else, things must be investigated. When things are investigated, one will know and understand the principle of things and the nature of things. Investigation of things pushes one to fully understand his function in society and how he should live his life. Investigation of things would allow man to discover the meaning of life and it will make him understand why he should strive to become a superior man. Man’s knowledge, according to Chu Hsi, is imperfect because man had failed to investigate things.

Next comes the extension of knowledge or learning. Confucius deemed that knowing the Tao is in itself learning. For him, learning is a value and should not be acquired for reasons of selfishness. Interest in the arts and literature expresses learning and he who uses his education as his foundation in making his life morally good is the right way to go. For Confucius, learning also means that if one makes a mistake, he should act upon it to correct and learn from the mistake that he made. He knows where he stand and does not act as if he knows any better when in fact he does not. Learning, for Confucius, is not without thinking and because he is thinking, he is careful in his speech and he is careful in following the Way and the rules of propriety. He learns for the sake of learning and for the sake of humanity. 

Making the will sincere follows next after things have been investigated and knowledge has been extended. The Great Learning provided making the will sincere means that one should not allow self-deception. Even in the confines of his own private quarters, the superior man should take great care of his thoughts, words, and deeds. A man with a sincere will is a genuine man who serves his purpose for the benefit of his family and for the benefit of his neighbours. By making his will sincere, the man, for Confucius, would allow him to maintain a pure heart that will show externally. For the Master, sincerity also manifests itself in the actions of the superior man and is one of the many steps in self-cultivation.

Lastly, when things have been investigated, when knowledge has been extended, and the will made sincere, the mind needs to be rectified for the completion of man’s self-cultivation. For Confucius, the mind need to be correct at all cost. He should not let fear or anger get the best of him and ruin his character as a superior man. To discipline his thoughts and his actions, the superior man must do so by rectifying his mind and keeping it control without letting him emotions get the best of him. He should not dwell in negativity and drown himself in extreme positivity. The cultivation of the person lies in being able to achieve a correct mind— a mind that has fully investigated things and have acquired knowledge, a will that is sincere and a mind that is rectified. For Confucius, a man with a rectified mind will do so well in making decisions, may he be a common man or a ruler. He strives to put things correctly where they are and makes sure that everything is in accordance to harmony. Having a rectified mind is having a moral mind. 

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