The
Confucian philosophy is centered on Ethics and the moral way of man. He says
that man should cultivate goodness and live in the through moral principles. Confucius
speaks of filial piety and brotherly respect, importance of tradition and being
a Chun Tzu. These boil down to a man that has already understood the importance
of virtue and is now practicing it in his life. Confucius assumes that man is
born with uprightness (analects 6:17). Human heartedness is a basic character
of man in which Mencius agrees upon. As Confucius presents man as able to elevate
himself into a superior man who equates to being a man of moral principles,
righteous and lives in accordance to the Way.
As
both Confucius and Mencius points out that man is naturally good. In the book
of Mencius 2A:6, it says that all men cannot bear to see others suffer. He illustrated
as an example a child that is about to fall in the well. There is an
implication that men do not immediately ask ‘what’s in it for me?’ Mencius states
that man’s action is driven by his first instinct of preferring good over evils
and selfishness. And where does this overpowering goodness come from? It comes
from the natural goodness of man that has nurtured and enriched.
As Confucius disciple, Mencius also puts
emphasis on how being equally righteous is achieved. On a more clear and
concise manner, Mencius made the Four beginnings. These are the beginnings of
realization to being a superior man and being human. Mencius says ‘commiseration
is the beginning of humanity; the feeling of shame and dislike is the beginning
of righteousness; the feeling of deference and compliance is the beginning of
propriety; and the feeling of right and wrong is the beginning of wisdom.’ According
to the book Eastern Philosophy by Kevin Burns, this illustrates how virtue
emerges from intellectual response.
Hence, the man
that has achieved the extent of these four beginnings is fit and equipped to be
a superior that can contribute to the world. He has achieved his humanity and
flourished his innate goodness.
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