Confucius and the Perfect Gentleman
Confucius and the Perfect Gentlemen
April 2, 2013
Carmichael 1 In The Analects, Confucius describes the ideal person or what is otherwise known as the perfect gentleman. This person in his eye's, is not motivated by gain or by specific political beliefs, but rather what is right in every situation. The life of the gentleman is one of moderation, he is a gentleman-scholar, faithful to others, sincere in deeds, and never giving up in his efforts of self-cultivation. Earthly gains have little place for him. It is expressed through recognition of value and concern for others, no matter their rank or class. Confucius felt that every man regardless of rank should attempt to reach the ideal by leading a virtuous life, by possessing a very noble character, and by doing his duty unselfishly with sincerity and truthfulness. He who is endowed with a good character and divine virtue is a gentleman. Confucius laid down a set of philosophical concepts that defined how a proper gentleman should act. According to Confucius, the four ideal virtues of a gentleman were filial piety, sincerity, propriety and benevolence. Confucius considered Filial Piety a foundational principle of his philosophy. It's a prime virtue in the sense that, from the Confucian point of view, it's the starting point of virtue. Humaneness is the ultimate goal, but it starts with filial piety. Filial piety focuses on sons giving appropriate respect to their parents, and in doing so, supporting the social order of society. The ideal gentleman was not only aware of his duties to his elders, but also actively fulfilled those duties to the fullest extent
Carmichael 2
possible. Confucian viewpoint holds that "kinship love" is the source of all the other qualities of the "ideal person" ; when kinship love is genuinely ingrained in one's heart, all the other qualities will spring from this as their source. Confucius, filial piety was important as a ritual and an attitude because it
April 2, 2013
Carmichael 1 In The Analects, Confucius describes the ideal person or what is otherwise known as the perfect gentleman. This person in his eye's, is not motivated by gain or by specific political beliefs, but rather what is right in every situation. The life of the gentleman is one of moderation, he is a gentleman-scholar, faithful to others, sincere in deeds, and never giving up in his efforts of self-cultivation. Earthly gains have little place for him. It is expressed through recognition of value and concern for others, no matter their rank or class. Confucius felt that every man regardless of rank should attempt to reach the ideal by leading a virtuous life, by possessing a very noble character, and by doing his duty unselfishly with sincerity and truthfulness. He who is endowed with a good character and divine virtue is a gentleman. Confucius laid down a set of philosophical concepts that defined how a proper gentleman should act. According to Confucius, the four ideal virtues of a gentleman were filial piety, sincerity, propriety and benevolence. Confucius considered Filial Piety a foundational principle of his philosophy. It's a prime virtue in the sense that, from the Confucian point of view, it's the starting point of virtue. Humaneness is the ultimate goal, but it starts with filial piety. Filial piety focuses on sons giving appropriate respect to their parents, and in doing so, supporting the social order of society. The ideal gentleman was not only aware of his duties to his elders, but also actively fulfilled those duties to the fullest extent
Carmichael 2
possible. Confucian viewpoint holds that "kinship love" is the source of all the other qualities of the "ideal person" ; when kinship love is genuinely ingrained in one's heart, all the other qualities will spring from this as their source. Confucius, filial piety was important as a ritual and an attitude because it