Topic 1 : CONFUCIUS

Confucius is a Chinese philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period, and is considered among
the greatest philosophers of the Hundred Schools of Thought. He was a philosopher and teacher
who lived from 551 to 479 B.C.E.

Confucius' teachings and philosophy underpin East Asian culture and society, remaining
influential across China and East Asia. His thoughts on ethics, good behavior, and moral
character were written down by his disciples in several books— the most important being the
Lunyu.

Apart from being a philosopher, he was also a politician, and a teacher whose message of
knowledge, benevolence, loyalty, and virtue were the main guiding philosophy of China for
thousands of years, making him the most influential philosopher in China's history.

ABOUT CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism is the name given to the set of beliefs taught by Confucius. He taught people how
they should behave towards each other which is why Confucianism is considered a way of life
for many rather than a religion.

Confucianism is one of the most influential religious philosophies in the history of China,
and it has existed for over 2,500 years. It is concerned with inner virtue, morality, and respect
for the community and its values.

Confucianism believes in ancestor worship and human-centered virtues for living a peaceful life.
The golden rule of Confucianism is “Do not do unto others what you would not want others
to do unto you.”

The main idea of Confucianism is the importance of having a good moral character , which can
then affect the world around that person through the idea of “cosmic harmony.” If the emperor
has moral perfection, his rule will be peaceful and benevolent. Natural disasters and conflict are
the result of straying from the ancient teachings. This moral character is achieved through the
virtue of ren, or “humanity,” which leads to more virtuous behaviors, such as respect, altruism,
and humility. Confucius believed in the importance of education in order to create this virtuous
character. He thought that people are essentially good yet may have strayed from the appropriate
forms of conduct.

The philosophy is based on the belief that human beings are essentially good, that they engage
in immoral behavior through lack of a strong moral standard, and that adherence to an ethical
code, and rituals which encourage it, enabled one to live a productive and tranquil life of peace
which would translate to a strong, ethical, and prosperous state.
CONFUCIUS NOTION OF GOOD

● Goodness is such an ambiguous concept that even Confucius shied away from attaching
an exact meaning to it. He found it much easier to describe the benefits that the
cultivation of a strong internal sense of goodness can bring to people rather than defining
its precise features.

● In his book, Analects 4.2, he points out that goodness gives people a sense of peace and
balance that allows them to handle the peaks and valleys of life with equanimity.
Whereas people who do not possess goodness are unable to “endure adversity or enjoy
happiness for long,” those who do possess it remain at ease no matter what external
circumstances they have to deal with.

● People who possess goodness are therefore happy with their lot in life. They do not
sacrifice their principles in order to escape poverty and obscurity or to acquire wealth and
status. If they achieve riches and acclaim, they do not let their newfound affluence and
celebrity go to their heads and if they lose their possessions and their reputation is ripped
to shreds, they don’t fall into a pit of despond and despair. Nothing diverts them from
their path.

● In 4.3, Confucius argues rather obliquely that only a person who has achieved the
sublime state of goodness has the wisdom and maturity to correctly determine who else is
good and who is evil: “Only a person who possesses goodness can love people and can
hate people.” As for the rest of us, we should focus our energy and talents on cultivating
our own goodness rather than wasting them on adulating or condemning others for their
alleged brilliance or wickedness.

● Although Confucius was usually an optimist about his ability to show people how to
cultivate their sense of goodness through his teachings, there were a few random
occasions when he even expressed doubts about the efficacy of all his hard work and
dedication. One such example can be found in 4.6 when he laments: “I’ve never seen
anyone who truly loves goodness and truly detests evil.”

● Despite such frustrations, Confucius continued to plug away with his teaching until the
end of his days. As a result of his own highly-developed sense of goodness, he was
always able to dust himself off after any setback or disappointment and set off once again
down his path.

● The worldly concern of Confucianism rests upon the belief that human beings are
fundamentally good, and teachable, improvable, and perfectible through personal and
communal endeavor, especially self-cultivation and self-creation. Confucian thought
focuses on the cultivation of virtue in a morally organized world.
 ● Some of the basic Confucian ethical concepts and practices include rén, yì, and lǐ, and
zhì. Rén 'benevolence' or 'humaneness' is the essence of the human being which
manifests as compassion. It is the virtue-form of Heaven. Yì is the upholding of
righteousness and the moral disposition to do good. Lǐ is a system of ritual norms and
propriety that determines how a person should properly act in everyday life in harmony
with the law of Heaven. Zhì is the ability to see what is right and fair, or the converse, in
the behaviors exhibited by others. Confucianism holds one in contempt, either passively
or actively, for failure to uphold the cardinal moral values of rén and yì.

● The keynote of Confucian ethics is jen, variously translated as "love," "goodness,"

"humanity," and "human-heartedness." Jen is a supreme virtue representing human
qualities at their best. In human relations, construed as those between one person and
another, jen is manifested in chung, or faithfulness to oneself and others, and shu, or
altruism, best expressed in the Confucian golden rule, "Do not do to others what you do
not want done to yourself."

● Other important Confucian virtues include righteousness, propriety, integrity, and filial
piety. One who possesses all these virtues becomes a chün-tzu (perfect gentleman).
Politically, Confucius advocated a paternalistic government in which the sovereign is
benevolent and honorable and the subjects are respectful and obedient. The ruler should
cultivate moral perfection in order to set a good example to the people. In education
Confucius upheld the theory, remarkable for the feudal period in which he lived, that "in
education, there is no class distinction."

● Confucius believed always treating people with kindness can make us wise. He believed
we should use our own feelings as a guide to how to treat others. We feel good when
people are kind to us and should want to make others feel that way.

APPLICATION OF HIS TEACHING:

● After two millennia, Confucianism, a philosophy that is considered to have helped form
China's society, still shines its light today by influencing and inspiring people all around
the world with its advocacy for education, harmony and other excellent qualities of
humanity.

● Confucius promises a government that cares for the people, that makes their well-being
its primary concern. This is to govern by virtue. And virtue creates its own legitimacy:
paternalistic, affectionate care of the people by the rulers is sure to be reciprocated by the
people's trust and obedience. (Add Former Pres Ramon Magsaysay context)

● Students are required to apply and share their knowledge and virtue to others and the
nation. Confucian learning focuses on the pursuit of personal strength and the
 commitment to social duty. Our student leaders are the best illustration of this; they
operate this institution, Cebu Normal University, in line with the demands of every single
student. They operate it with love, virtue, and respect. As a result, our school has
transformed into a community that values independence, respect, love, and wisdom. A
community united to meet all of fate's challenges, and a community strong enough to
fight for survival.

Overall, Confucius taught people how they should behave towards each other which is why
Confucianism is considered a way of life for many rather than a religion. Confucius believed
people should try to be good citizens. Confucius believed that society could become perfect if the
people who lived in it worked very hard to show "beautiful conduct”. Confucius placed a strong
importance on li, which means proper or orderly conduct – in other words behaving properly!
This was the message Confucius wanted to deliver through his teaching.

Confucius wanted people to behave well so he taught five basic ideas for people to follow:

1. Always be considerate to others.

2. Respect your ancestors.
3. Aim for harmony and balance in all things.
4. Avoid extremes in behavior and emotion.
5. Live in peace and harmony and keep in touch with the spiritual forces of the universe,
including nature.