Last class we didn't have the opportunity to discuss our reading assignment, so I have the luxury of completing this assignment solo. Our section was over Confucius, Taoism, and Mo. So I'm just going to put up some of the notes I took from the reading. The three philosophies are very similar, yet they have a few key differences that set them apart. The basic virtue that is most prevalent is the idea of harmony. Harmony with whom or what differentiate these religions.
Confucius focused on a harmonious community and building virtue in leadership roles. He believed a good ruler will inspire virtue in his subjects. Self realization is based on finding one's role in society rather than personal enlightenment. One is not just themselves, but a representation of his or her relationships to the family and role in society. Confucius believed in developing jen, or humanity, and practiced rituals and ceremonies. Mind and body are espressions of ch'i, or energy.
Mo Tzu believed in universal love, rather than love for just one's family. He believed love was the answer and the redeeming quality for humans. Mo Tzu says humans are naturally evil and greedy. Heavy emphasis on "ideal leader does not actively lead."
The Tao is about harmony with the universe. To be wise is to be one with nature and live with its rhythm. They believe the importance of life and death should not be overemphasized and everything in life is cyclical; what goes around comes around. To reach eternity, a sage will become one with the Tao to the point he no longer recognizes himself as separate from the Tao. The yin and yang symbol came from the Tao, and it represents the cyclical nature of the universe. "The Taoist soul is more like a drop of water in a stream."
Factual question: The yin/yang symbol came from Confucianism because Confucius said it makes his bling look tight. False, it came from Taoism to represent the cyclical nature of all things.
Discussion question: Which of these three philosophies appeals to your way of life? What do you feel you need to be in harmony with? Family, friends, nature..?
I like the Confucius idea of finding your role in society in order to better the world/society, because I think that may be the closest answer to "the meaning of life" question one can come to. The idea of always representing your family, however, is a little old school.
ReplyDeleteI don't think humans are necessarily naturally evil like Mo Tzu says, but I do think our environment often molds us into greedy beings early on whether we want it or or not.
Ultimately, I personally agree to/am appealed by pieces of each philosophy. As Confucius says, you must find your role in society; as Mo Tzu says, there needs to be universal love; and, as the Tao says, there is a cyclical nature of the universe, and it's important for us to all be in harmony with the universe and with nature.
I personally would have to chose a combo of Tao and Confucian, as I see considering the group as a whole and making decisions based on this would make the world a better place. I also on the other hand feel that we should work on being one with nature and that can include society, as society functions within its surrounds, that being nature.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to add, that I feel a person should work on harmony with all things, this being nature, society, family, friends. Harmony of only one of these things leaves room for chaos in the others, but if you were to work towards a total harmonious life with all these and people, you will then find true harmony within.
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