Lecture05-Confucius-Mencius-Sept-13-Chinese-Philos.ppt

PHIL 2931Confucius(III)Mencius(I)Schedulen nConfucius Political Philosophyn nConfucius Metaphysics and religionn nHistory of Mencius and his periodn nMencius Moral Philosophy:Human Naturen nPolitical Philosophyn nMind and HeavenFive Relationshipsn nFive Relationship:Parent and Child;elder brother and younger brother(and sisters);husband and wife;ruler and subject;between friends.n nDuty:Each relationship is bounded by rights and obligations.n nThese relationships share the same kind of morality.Cheng Ming 正名n nCheng Ming:Rectification of NamesCheng Ming:Rectification of Namesn n子路曰：衛君待子而為政，子將奚先？子曰：子路曰：衛君待子而為政，子將奚先？子曰：必也正名乎！子路曰：有是哉？子必也正名乎！子路曰：有是哉？子 之迂也！之迂也！奚其正？子曰：野哉，由也！君子於其所不奚其正？子曰：野哉，由也！君子於其所不知，蓋闕如也。名不正，則言不順知，蓋闕如也。名不正，則言不順 ；言不順，則；言不順，則事不成；事不成，則禮樂不興；禮樂不興，則刑事不成；事不成，則禮樂不興；禮樂不興，則刑罰不中；刑罰不中，則民無所罰不中；刑罰不中，則民無所 措手足。故君子名措手足。故君子名之必可言也，言之必可行也。君子於其言，無所之必可言也，言之必可行也。君子於其言，無所茍茍而已矣！而已矣！Explanationn nTo have a well ordered society,the most To have a well ordered society,the most important thing is to carry out the rectification of important thing is to carry out the rectification of names.names.n nThings in actual fact should be made to accord Things in actual fact should be made to accord with the implication attached to them by names.with the implication attached to them by names.n nEvery name contains certain implications which Every name contains certain implications which constitute the essence of that class of things to constitute the essence of that class of things to which this name applies.which this name applies.n nSee Fung,pp.41-42See Fung,pp.41-42Is Confucianism a religion?n nIt is obvious that the core part of Confucianism It is obvious that the core part of Confucianism is about morality.is about morality.n nUnlike Christianity,Confucianism does not have Unlike Christianity,Confucianism does not have the problem of God and Morality.At least the the problem of God and Morality.At least the problem here is not the same way as the problem here is not the same way as the Christianitys problem.Christianitys problem.n nA metaphysical question:Where do these virtues A metaphysical question:Where do these virtues comes from?This is where Confucianism can be comes from?This is where Confucianism can be considered as a religion.considered as a religion.Confuciuss religionn nConfucius didnConfucius didn t really pay attention to this t really pay attention to this problem.It seems that he assumes that there is problem.It seems that he assumes that there is a heaven/supernatural being,but the existence a heaven/supernatural being,but the existence of it is not what he concerns.of it is not what he concerns.n n6:22 Fan Chih asked about wisdom.The Master 6:22 Fan Chih asked about wisdom.The Master said,To work for the things the common people said,To work for the things the common people have a fight to and to keep ones distance from have a fight to and to keep ones distance from the gods and spirits while showing them the gods and spirits while showing them reverence can be called wisdom.reverence can be called wisdom.樊遲問知。樊遲問知。子曰：務民之義，敬鬼神而遠之，可謂知矣。子曰：務民之義，敬鬼神而遠之，可謂知矣。Examplesn n3:12 3:12 Sacrifice as if presentSacrifice as if present is taken to mean is taken to mean sacrifice to sacrifice to the gods as if gods were present.the gods as if gods were present.The Master,however,said,The Master,however,said,Unless I take part in a Unless I take part in a sacrifice,it is as if I did not sacrifice.sacrifice,it is as if I did not sacrifice.祭如在，祭神如神祭如在，祭神如神在。子曰：吾不與祭，如不祭。在。子曰：吾不與祭，如不祭。n n7:35 The Master was seriously ill.Tzu-lu asked 7:35 The Master was seriously ill.Tzu-lu asked permission to offer a prayer.The Master said,Was such permission to offer a prayer.The Master said,Was such a thing ever done?Tzu-lu said,Yes,it was.The prayer a thing ever done?Tzu-lu said,Yes,it was.The prayer offered was as follows:pray thus to the gods above and offered was as follows:pray thus to the gods above and below.The Master said,In that case,I have long been below.The Master said,In that case,I have long been offering my prayers.offering my prayers.子疾病，子路請禱。子曰：有諸子疾病，子路請禱。子曰：有諸？子路對曰：有之；誄曰：？子路對曰：有之；誄曰：禱爾於上下神祗禱爾於上下神祗子子曰：丘之禱久矣。曰：丘之禱久矣。Examplesn n3:13 Wang-sun Chia said,Better to be obsequious to the kitchen stove than to the south-west corner of the house.What does that mean?The Master said,“The saying has got it wrong.When you have offended against Heaven,there is nowhere you can turn to in your prayers.”王孫賈問曰：與其媚於奧，寧媚於灶，何謂也？子曰：不然；獲罪於天，無所禱也。Warring States Periodn nLater in the Warring States Period,most weak states were conquered by other strong states.There were mainly seven strong states at that time.Qin 秦 was one of them and she finally conquered all other states and united China in 221.B.Cn nMencius was born in such a period(371-289 B.C.?)The life of Confucius and Menciusn nNo matter it is just a coincidence or not;the life of Confucius and Mencius were very similar.n nThey were both born in Shantung Province.n nBoth of them tried to persuade rulers of different states to accept their thoughts.Both of them failed,and finally became teachers.n nAlthough they did not achieve success in politics,they were good in education.The life of Confucius and Mencius(2)n nUsually Confucius is considered as the greatest Usually Confucius is considered as the greatest person in Confucianism,and Mencius is the person in Confucianism,and Mencius is the second greatest(He is called second greatest(He is called“the Second Sage the Second Sage 亞聖亞聖).).n nThe AnalectsThe Analects(or (or Lunyu)Lunyu)論語論語 is the book with is the book with the collection of conversations mainly between the collection of conversations mainly between Confucius and his students.Confucius and his students.n nThe book The book MenciusMencius(The name of the book is the (The name of the book is the same as the person)is the book written by same as the person)is the book written by Mencius(and some may be from his students).Mencius(and some may be from his students).Mencius-the bookn nThe book is divided into seven chapters,and The book is divided into seven chapters,and each chapter can be divided into two parts.each chapter can be divided into two parts.n nThe style of The style of MenciusMencius is quite different from is quite different from The The Analects.Analects.n nMencius prefers to talk in a lengthy and Mencius prefers to talk in a lengthy and argumentative way.argumentative way.n nHe uses a lot of metaphors and analogies.They He uses a lot of metaphors and analogies.They are colorful,but some of them may be are colorful,but some of them may be misleading.misleading.His main opponentsn nMencius was born+100 years after Confucius.In his period,there were many different schools of thoughts in China.Mencius wanted to argue against them,and thats why he talked in a lengthy and argumentative way.n n3B:9(p.72 in Chan)3B:9n nYao and Shun-traditionn nYang Chu and Mo Ti(Mo Tzu/Mozi)n nEgoism and Universal Love6B:1(1-3)n n1.A man of Zan asked the disciple W-l,saying,Is an 1.A man of Zan asked the disciple W-l,saying,Is an observance of the rules of propriety in regard to eating,or observance of the rules of propriety in regard to eating,or eating merely,the more important?The answer was,The eating merely,the more important?The answer was,The observance of the rules of propriety is the more important.observance of the rules of propriety is the more important.n n2.Is the gratifying the appetite of sex,or the doing so only 2.Is the gratifying the appetite of sex,or the doing so only according to the rules of propriety,the more important?The according to the rules of propriety,the more important?The answer again was,The observance of the rules of propriety in answer again was,The observance of the rules of propriety in the matter is the more important.the matter is the more important.n n3.The man pursued,If the result of eating only according to 3.The man pursued,If the result of eating only according to the rules of propriety will be death by starvation,while by the rules of propriety will be death by starvation,while by disregarding those rules we may get food,must they still be disregarding those rules we may get food,must they still be observed in such a case?If according to the rule that he shall observed in such a case?If according to the rule that he shall go in person to meet his wife a man cannot get married,go in person to meet his wife a man cannot get married,while by disregarding that rule he may get married,must he while by disregarding that rule he may get married,must he still observe the rule in such a case?still observe the rule in such a case?6B:1(4-6)n n4.W-l was unable to reply to these questions,and the 4.W-l was unable to reply to these questions,and the next day he went to Tsu,and told them to Mencius.next day he went to Tsu,and told them to Mencius.Mencius said,What difficulty is there in answering these Mencius said,What difficulty is there in answering these inquiries?inquiries?n n5.If you do not adjust them at their lower extremities,5.If you do not adjust them at their lower extremities,but only put their tops on a level,a piece of wood an but only put their tops on a level,a piece of wood an inch square may be made to be higher than the pointed inch square may be made to be higher than the pointed peak of a high building.peak of a high building.n n6.Gold is heavier than feathers;-but does that saying 6.Gold is heavier than feathers;-but does that saying have reference,on the one hand,to a single clasp of have reference,on the one hand,to a single clasp of gold,and,on the other,to a waggon-load of feathers?gold,and,on the other,to a waggon-load of feathers?Questionsno answer from Confuciusn nRen,Li,Yi are so important.But why are they important?n nAre they our nature,or what?n nAre they related to some supernatural meanings?n nHow do we apply Ren,Yi,etc.in politics?Human Naturen nMencius also believes that those virtues Mencius also believes that those virtues suggested by Confucius are very important(core suggested by Confucius are very important(core in Confucian philosophy)(see 6B:1 for an in Confucian philosophy)(see 6B:1 for an example)example)n nMore,Mencius argues that these virtues can be More,Mencius argues that these virtues can be considered as our human nature(considered as our human nature(性性 Hsing/Xing).Hsing/Xing).n n6A:6A:1,1,2,3 and 4.A debate between Mencius 2,3 and 4.A debate between Mencius and Kao Tzu and Kao Tzu 告子告子 (6A:4,also see Comics p.72-(6A:4,also see Comics p.72-74)74)6A:1-2n nThat benevolence and righteousness are no unnatural That benevolence and righteousness are no unnatural products of human nature.products of human nature.n nMans nature is not indifferent to good and evil.Its Mans nature is not indifferent to good and evil.Its proper tendency is to good.proper tendency is to good.n nKao Tzu inferred from the fact that man actually can be Kao Tzu inferred from the fact that man actually can be led to do good or evil that human nature is neither good led to do good or evil that human nature is neither good nor evil.nor evil.n nMencius believed that the actual evils committed by man Mencius believed that the actual evils committed by man are due to adverse environmental influences.are due to adverse environmental influences.n nIf one cares to nurture the specific human nature,then If one cares to nurture the specific human nature,then he would naturally do good and also love to do good.he would naturally do good and also love to do good.Hence,human nature is good.Hence,human nature is good.