哲学 Synthesis Paper: 1D

哲学

What is philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy…

1. by Confucius…

D. in the way he specifies the solution to the philosophical problem?

Chan, 1963 

(Book of History)

“Let the king be serious in what he does. He should not neglect to be serious with virtue.”

Therefore, nurture your values and do not forget it. Govern the state together with your virtues for they will act as your staff as you go along the Path. Govern the state together with your virtues for they will never part with you as long as you keep them close. Your virtues will be crucial in fulfilling your duties and most importantly, they will help you keep your lands secure and they will help you sustain harmony within the community. 

This virtuous man must be a cultivated man- a superior man, a gentleman, a noble man. He should be, by all means, a chun-tzu. And because he is a chun-tzu, he knows how do things rightly. First, he starts with his own self. Nothing should go past him, as he is a superior man he is always careful in his ways inside and the outside his office and inside and outside his own home. He makes sure that names are used correctly in accordance with their purpose for Confucius believes that not being able to correct names and their actualities would lead to social disorder. Confucius also extends this to the ranks and positions of men in the family and in the society.  Violation of this is but a symptom of social disorder. In line with this, the superior man should give great importance to tradition and tradition should be maintained and followed correctly. A superior man, for Confucius, is one who keeps the tradition alive and makes sure that rituals are properly followed. 

Another solution to the problem lies in the faculty of the mind. A superior man must do so well in this area and must have wisdom to be able to discern what is good and what is bad and he should have the wisdom to do good. If born with knowledge, the superior man must seek more and nurture his intelligence and if he is born without, seek it still. By this he is able to slowly develop himself and his character. He should understand and reach for the higher goals and be wary of inferior men. By being aware of such men in the society, he will try to cultivate them as he continues to cultivate his own self. With this, he is not only a man for himself but a man for others as well. 

Upon cultivating himself, Confucius believes that having a heart for others is very important in being able to develop all other virtues. Benevolence is key to the whole process that will end disharmony in the society. Nurturing jen, the superior man should also take not of his relations with his family. A superior man is one who knows how to be filial and knows how to respect his brothers. These two virtues that enters around the family are the roots of humanity. 

The conduct of the superior man, for Confucius, should be that one thread that runs in his doctrines. Altruism and conscientiousness both goes hand in hand and work better together. Through this, the superior man can exercise his humaneness and at the same time, he is able to call others to do the same. His actions should adhere to what is moral. Being righteous means that he should not tolerate any form of injustice. For Confucius and for the superior man, what is ought to be should be. Above all this, he should tread carefully and use only the road that is correct- the Way. 

With this he emerges out and begins another journey. To complete the solution, he will begin by investigation things. In order to learn and to acquire the knowledge that he needs, the superior man should start by investigating things. If he study things by investigation, he will be able to understand and comprehend the matters of the world easily. Next, his will must be sincere. As he is a superior man, he should be able to see things clearly and making his will sincere is but a way to do that. From here on, his mind will also be set rightly and correct. He does not let his happiness and sadness govern him. With a correct mind, his actions will also be correct. 

From cultivating himself, he will begin to cultivate his family. For he is filial and hold high respect for his brothers, he makes sure that they are cultivated rightly towards the Tao. From hereon, the superior man can finally emerge outside the borders of his family to the state. Until he reaches the realm of a Tao-centered philosopher-king where he rules by and with the virtues that he was able to develop. 

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