Confucius
May 10, 2005Confucius laid down a pattern of thinking followed by more people for more generations than any other human being on the face of the earth.
Confucianism: Intelligent kindness
Guest Contributor
10 May 2005
Posted by Paul Kjellberg
The Master said, “At fifteen, I set my mind on learning. At thirty, I took my stand. At forty, I was free of doubts. At fifty, I understand heaven’s command. And at seventy, I could follow my heart’s desire without crossing the line.” (Analects 2.4)
To begin with, I am forty-one and this is my first time blogging. So I trust people will forgive me if I cross any lines. I tried to post this before the show but evidently blogged it up. So let me start by summarizing what I think are the outlines of the Confucian view of education.
Usually when we think of an education, we think of it as the accumulation of information. While information plays an important role, a Confucian education is more a process of self-cultivation. Specifically, it is a process of becoming intelligently kind.
Like liberal education, Confucian education is not directed toward any particular form of employment. But as with a liberal education, one could use almost any form of employment to act kindly. Though he also sees kindness as an end in itself, Confucius also thinks that people who approach the task this way will ultimately be the most effective.
What does it mean to be “intelligently kind”? People can be kind without being intelligent and intelligent without being kind. Success for Confucius was learning to be both at the same time. Obviously by “kindness” here we mean something more than just being nice all the time since sometimes you have to be if not cruel to be kind, at least sanguine.
We tend to think of kindness as a feeling or a passion. Etymologically, a passion is something that happens to you, as opposed to an action, which is something you do. But Confucius, along with Aristotle and others in the West, think of at least some feelings as things we can cultivate, practice, and strengthen.
I’ll stop there for the moment. The Master said, “To study and have a chance to practice what you’ve learned—isn’t that a joy? To have friends come from far away places—isn’t that a pleasure?” (Analects 1.1) I look forward to the discussion.
Comments (5)
nick
Monday, May 16, 2005 -- 5:00 PM
My understanding of philosophical education is thaMy understanding of philosophical education is that it is primarilly about cultivating friendship through growth in wisdom and secondarily about my own love of wisdom, both speculative and practical. I acquired this notion of philosophy from T.K. Seung at the University of Texas at Austin in a class on Kant's political and moral philosophy. I don't think a class went by where he failed to use exapmles of Kant's main ideas that involved friendship. Friendship and kindness where the two most prominent themes.
Guest
Tuesday, May 17, 2005 -- 5:00 PM
Plato had four levels: control of the emotions thrPlato had four levels: control of the emotions through Temperance, Spirit through Courage, Reason through Wisdom, and then making the leap through Eros to the Forms and Beauty. Abraham Maslow had his own development: securing physiological needs, safety, love, self-esteem, and then self-actualization in ascending order. I have my own levels of actualization which involve a human?s ability to understand and use: Logic, Epistemology, Morals, Ethics, Theology, Logos and then bringing them into the world through the Science, State, Religion, and God in ascending order.
Guest
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 -- 5:00 PM
I am a Chinese American currently living in Asia,I am a Chinese American currently living in Asia, mainly between Taiwan and mainland China. Confucianism with its emphasis on social relationships and kindness had been the clue that held the Chinese society together for thousands of years. Unfortunately, due to historical developments in the past 100 years, Confucianism has been corroded and almost disappeared in present day China and Taiwan. The errosion of Confucian values in China was mainly brought about by the red cultural revolution. During the revolution, the Communist party encouraged children to turn against their parents and students to turn against their teachers; values and behaviors that were contrary to Confucian morals were encouraged. Confucianism had been preserved on the island of Taiwan during the revolution. However, due to the rise of pro Taiwan independence movement and changes in political landscape, Confucianism along with all things "Chinese" have been suppressed and discarded in Taiwan over the years. The pro independence majority wants to establish their new cultural identity and severe their historical and cultural ties with China.
The decline of Confucianism in both Taiwan and China saddens me deeply. Although people in Taiwan and China read, write and speak in Chinese, their values and morals are no longer Confucian. Both Taiwan and China are in a moral vacuum. American cultural imperialism and the values conveyed in American media, have much influenced Taiwan, China and much of Asia. Sex, violence, scandals, obscenity and all things sensational are ubiquitous in Taiwan's media. China's state controled media is actually preferable to Taiwan's tabloid news.
I hope the Chinese people will once again discover the wisdom of Confucianism.
Guest
Sunday, November 20, 2005 -- 4:00 PM
Confucianism had been preserved on the island oConfucianism had been preserved on the island of Taiwan during the revolution. However, due to the rise of pro Taiwan independence movement and changes in political landscape, Confucianism along with all things "Chinese" have been suppressed and discarded in Taiwan over the years.
Both of those sentences are ridiculous. The KMT did not preserve Confucianism -- that was killed by the Sung Neo-Confucians centuries ago -- they simply wrapped an authoritarian state around his name. The independence movement in Taiwan is Taiwan-centered, but that does not mean that all thing Chinese have been suppressed. Not a single temple has been closed, the traditional arts flourish, and mandarin is still the official language.
Michael
YY
Thursday, January 2, 2020 -- 12:20 PM
“When we have intelligence“When we have intelligence resulting from sincerity, this condition is to be ascribed to nature; when we have sincerity resulting from intelligence, this condition is to be ascribed to instruction. But given the sincerity, and there shall be the intelligence; given the intelligence, and there shall be the sincerity.” — Confucius
“A high will, or a loving heart, will not seek life at cost of love.” — Confucius
“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” — Confucius
“Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.” — Confucius
“When we see men of worth, we should think of equaling them; when we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves.” — Confucius
“They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it.” — Confucius
“Learn as though you would never be able to master it; Hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.” — Confucius
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