The Foundations of The Foundations of Chinese Philosophy: Chinese Philosophy: The Confucian EthosThe Confucian Ethos

San-pao Li, Ph.DSan-pao Li, Ph.D..Department of Asian and Asian American StudiesDepartment of Asian and Asian American Studies

California State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach

California, U.S.A.California, U.S.A.

February 19, 2004February 19, 2004

The Anthropocosmic Unity:The Anthropocosmic Unity:Heaven, Earth, and ManHeaven, Earth, and Man

EthosEthos

The characteristic and distinguiThe characteristic and distinguishing attitudes, habits, beliefs, shing attitudes, habits, beliefs, etc. of an individual or of a groetc. of an individual or of a gro

upup

The Confucian EthosThe Confucian Ethos

For nearly 2,500 years Confucianism For nearly 2,500 years Confucianism remained both a dominant intellectual remained both a dominant intellectual force and a forceful ethical system thaforce and a forceful ethical system that molded and conditioned many aspect molded and conditioned many aspec

ts of Chinese culture.ts of Chinese culture.

5

An OutlineAn Outline Intellectual Flowering in Early Intellectual Flowering in Early

China: The “Hundred SchoolsChina: The “Hundred Schools” ” (520 B.C.-220 B.C.)(520 B.C.-220 B.C.)

Confucius as a “paradigmatic inConfucius as a “paradigmatic individual”dividual”

ConfucianismConfucianism

6

An OutlineAn Outline Intellectual Flowering in Early Intellectual Flowering in Early

China: The “Hundred SchoolsChina: The “Hundred Schools” ” (520 B.C.-220 B.C.)(520 B.C.-220 B.C.)

Confucius as a “paradigmatic inConfucius as a “paradigmatic individual”dividual”

ConfucianismConfucianism

Yu-lan Fung, Yu-lan Fung, History of Chinese PhilosophyHistory of Chinese Philosophy

Period of the Philosophers: ThPeriod of the Philosophers: The Classical Periode Classical Period

Period of Classical LearningPeriod of Classical Learning

Period of the PhilosophersPeriod of the Philosophers Zi or Tzu= Master Zi or Tzu= Master

Kung Fu Tzu (Kongfuzi, Kung Fu Tzu (Kongfuzi, ConfuciusConfucius)) Meng Tzu (Mengzi, Meng Tzu (Mengzi, MenciusMencius)) Lao Tzu (Laozi)Lao Tzu (Laozi) Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi)Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) Hsun Tzu (Xunzi)Hsun Tzu (Xunzi) Han Fei Tzu (Hanfeizi)Han Fei Tzu (Hanfeizi)

Period of Classical LearningPeriod of Classical Learning(2nd century B.C. - 20th century)(2nd century B.C. - 20th century)

Confucian scholars/philosophersConfucian scholars/philosophers Neo-ConfucianismNeo-Confucianism Buddhism (The only newly introducBuddhism (The only newly introduc

ed thought-system in this perioded thought-system in this period

The “Hundred Schools”The “Hundred Schools” Confucianism Confucianism

(Confucius, Menciu(Confucius, Mencius)s)

Taoism/Daoism Taoism/Daoism (Lao Tzu, Chuang Tz(Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu)u)

Moism Moism (Mo Tzu)(Mo Tzu)

Legalism Legalism (Han Fei Tzu)(Han Fei Tzu)

The “Hundred Schools”The “Hundred Schools”

Dialecticians/LogiciansDialecticians/LogiciansYin-Yang philosophersYin-Yang philosophersAgriculturalistsAgriculturalistsMilitaristsMilitarists

12

An OutlineAn Outline

Intellectual Flowering in Early ChIntellectual Flowering in Early China: The “Hundred Schools”ina: The “Hundred Schools”

Confucius as a “paradigmatiConfucius as a “paradigmatic individual”c individual”

ConfucianismConfucianism

Karl Jaspers,Karl Jaspers,The Great PhilosophersThe Great Philosophers

The four “paradigmatic individuals”The four “paradigmatic individuals”

SocratesSocratesBuddhaBuddhaConfuciusConfuciusJesusJesus

Karl Jaspers,Karl Jaspers,The Great PhilosophersThe Great Philosophers

The four “paradigmatic individuals”The four “paradigmatic individuals”

By being what they were, did more than other men By being what they were, did more than other men to determine the history of manto determine the history of man

Their influence extends through two millennia doTheir influence extends through two millennia down to our own daywn to our own day

They became the foundations of powerful philosoThey became the foundations of powerful philosophical movementsphical movements

Not philosophers themselves, but they have had exNot philosophers themselves, but they have had extraordinary impact for all philosophiestraordinary impact for all philosophies

Michael H. HartMichael H. HartThe 100: The 100:

A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in HistoryA Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History

See transparencySee transparency

16

An OutlineAn Outline

Intellectual Flowering in Early ChiIntellectual Flowering in Early China: The “Hundred Schools”na: The “Hundred Schools”

Confucius as a “paradigmatic inConfucius as a “paradigmatic individual”dividual”

ConfucianismConfucianism

ConfucianismConfucianism

Man---EthicsMan---Ethics The “self” and the “society”The “self” and the “society”

cultivation of the selfcultivation of the self self--family--state--worldself--family--state--world

inner-sageliness and outer-kinglinessinner-sageliness and outer-kingliness the process of daily renewal the process of daily renewal

the concept of “self-renovation”the concept of “self-renovation” transforming potentialtransforming potential a process of becominga process of becoming

from “what is” to “what should be”from “what is” to “what should be”

Man---EthicsMan---Ethics

The five cardinal human relationshipsThe five cardinal human relationships The hierarchical structure: misinterpretatioThe hierarchical structure: misinterpretatio

ns from the Hanns from the Han Core values in ConfucianismCore values in Confucianism

benevolence,loyalty, filial piety, and social decorumbenevolence,loyalty, filial piety, and social decorum The physical, natural order and the The physical, natural order and the

social, moral order are identical social, moral order are identical and often spoken as one and the same. and often spoken as one and the same.

Man---EthicsMan---EthicsThe Five Cardinal Human RelationsThe Five Cardinal Human Relations

Self

Monarch-Subject

Father-SonHusband-Wife

Brother-BrotherFriend-Friend

Man---EthicsMan---EthicsThe Core Values in ConfucianismThe Core Values in Confucianism

Ren(Benevolence)

Zhong(Loyalty)

Xiao(Filial Piety)

Jie(Chastity)

Li(Rites)

Xin(Faithfulness)

Man---EthicsMan---EthicsThe concept of “The concept of “filial pietyfilial piety””

Complete devotion, honor, Complete devotion, honor, respect, and obedience to one’s respect, and obedience to one’s

parents, living and deceased.parents, living and deceased.

Man---EthicsMan---EthicsThe concept of “The concept of “righteousnessrighteousness””

A A universal and “holistic” expression of all the universal and “holistic” expression of all the general virtues in the Confucian systemgeneral virtues in the Confucian system

Any failure to actualize a potential virtue and any Any failure to actualize a potential virtue and any infraction against or nonfulfillment of loyalty, filial infraction against or nonfulfillment of loyalty, filial piety, chastity, or even the principle of faithfulness piety, chastity, or even the principle of faithfulness among friends disqualifies a person from being among friends disqualifies a person from being considered “righteous.”considered “righteous.”

The attainment of it represents a The attainment of it represents a summa summarumsumma summarum or moral completion.or moral completion.

Man---EthicsMan---EthicsThe concept of “The concept of “righteousnessrighteousness””

Man---EthicsMan---Ethics

Confucian personality is not Confucian personality is not private but publicprivate but public

Publicly accountable and Publicly accountable and communally significantcommunally significant

Man---EthicsMan---Ethics

The Confucian “subjectivity”The Confucian “subjectivity” A moral concept A moral concept sui generissui generis

““It is man who magnifies the Dao; It is man who magnifies the Dao; the Dao does not magnify a man.”the Dao does not magnify a man.”

The concept of “matching Heaven”The concept of “matching Heaven” Charles A. Moore, Charles A. Moore, The Chinese MindThe Chinese Mind

““The ethical and the spiritual are one in China”The ethical and the spiritual are one in China” Faust and PrometheusFaust and Prometheus

ConfucianismConfucianismAdvocated humanismAdvocated humanismStressed personal cultivationStressed personal cultivationA system of intense moralism and A system of intense moralism and

humanismhumanismIdentified politics with ethicsIdentified politics with ethicsAttempted to restore social order Attempted to restore social order

(“rectification of names“)(“rectification of names“)

The Anthropocosmic Unity:The Anthropocosmic Unity:Heaven, Earth, and ManHeaven, Earth, and Man

The Foundations of The Foundations of Chinese Philosophy: Chinese Philosophy: The Confucian EthosThe Confucian Ethos

San-pao Li, Ph.DSan-pao Li, Ph.D..Department of Asian and Asian American StudiesDepartment of Asian and Asian American Studies

California State University, Long BeachCalifornia State University, Long Beach

California, U.S.A.California, U.S.A.

February 19, 2004February 19, 2004

30

Thank you!Thank you!

Your comments and questionsYour comments and questions are welcome!are welcome!