Preview

Daniel Bell: Can Confucianism Save The World?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
406 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Daniel Bell: Can Confucianism Save The World?
Confucianism can save the world with its interpretation of the world but it depends on what context and which crisis we are addressing.
Daniel Bell focused on two main issues that are hanging above us right now which are ecological instability of life and equality within states and globally. When these two issues are used to answer the question, whether “Can Confucianism Save the World? The answer should be yes. The ecological instability is due to the lack of harmony with nature which can be resolves using Confucius ideology. Regarding the equality in global aspects, the main problem is that individuals have focused on their happiness regardless of the impact on other people or nature. Bell makes a good point saying that these preferences

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Confucius was born in 51 BC and grew up in poverty. His real name is Kong Zi, the name Confucius, catholic priests finding it easier to use, gave it to him. The causes were that, Confucius said, and wrote in his books, that the past was better than the present. Emperor Qin didn’t like his teachings and burned all his books but that didn’t stop Confucius’s ideas. He said that an Emperor should listen to his people and make them happy. He believed that the Emperor had broken the ways of haven and the soil would not be plentiful and crop would not grow. He said that they should have a good emperor, an emperor that follows the ways of heaven, and that they need a better emperor, one who could be trusted by the people and come from a powerful family. That emperor was Liu Bang, who made the country peaceful again and built schools for the ways of Confucius. Confucius said that people should find happiness in life and find the right way to live in life. He taught people about peace and said that educated people acted and were better than uneducated people. He said, “In a Chinese family, the child should give the parents a constant love and obedience. In return, the parents should give the child a constant love and protection. The Consequences were that China improved and became a more civilized civilization. Confucius’s ways are still being taught today.…

    • 701 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Ch 5 Responses

    • 2469 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Confucianism argued that social harmony could only be restored through the moral example of superiors. Confucius emphasized that, because human society (both within the family and in public life) consisted primarily of unequal relationships, social harmony relied on the superior party in these relationships behaving with sincerity, benevolence, and genuine concern for others. Only then would the inferior party be motivated to respond with deference and obedience.…

    • 2469 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucianism vs Daosim

    • 355 Words
    • 1 Page

    Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, started off teaching his ideals to only a few students of his, but after he died these beliefs became more popular and even became the framework of some government in china, mainly the Han Dynasty. Confucius believed that keeping family and government parallel to each other and keeping social order was the way to peace. Loyalty and the five relationships; ruler-subject, husband-wife, parent-child, older sibling-younger sibling, and friend-friend, were used to maintain social order. Confucianism stressed the importance of relationships, while Daoism was more about self-worth and finding peace with yourself. People needed to follow their own Dao (way of life) and oath through nature, and not think about hierarchy and obedience to rulers. In Confucianism everyone has their own place, but in Daoism you ignore what society says and find your own way.…

    • 355 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Master Kong, also known as Confucius, began the philosophical and ethical system of Confucianism. Humanitarianism is the core belief of Confucianism. The belief system is based on the philosophy that humans are, by nature, communal and social beings and that everyone has a specific role to play. The Five Great Relationships and the Five Virtues are concepts followed in Confucianism.…

    • 531 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    china

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Confucian system was based on the teachings of Confucius. Confucius spread ideas about political virtue and good government. He was not a religious leader which shifted Chinese values. He emphasized the importance of personal virtue. He believed that if people were taught that they would find a reverence for tradition and a solid political life. Confucius set out to rectify political disorder. He emphasized individual virtuous behavior. He thought that whatever a ruler did, his people would imitate and follow. The people will imitate the ruler’s self control. Confucius set up levels of authority stressing personal restraints and careful socialization of children. Rival Chinese schools are the thoughts and teachings of different philosophers that had different ideas that went against each other, such as Confucianism and Daoism.…

    • 868 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucius’ ideas arise only a short time before Lao Tzu explains his beliefs. According to the Confucian teachings, people are capable of being taught and changed as long as they are taught the right way. The things people should be taught are things such as being virtuous and acting on what they teach while also keeping a healthy sense of morals and being aware of and willing to help other individuals in need. Confucius believes that each person should be held accountable for his actions in each field. This belief is supported by the fact that he thinks that the government should “lead [people] by means of virtue and regulate them through rituals [so that] they will have a sense of shame and moreover have standards” (“Confucian Teachings” paragraph 51). He believes that each person has the capacity to excel at each endeavor because societies were made to work in…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism Dbq Essay

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Confucius believed that a peaceful society occurred “when all people acted properly based on their roles with others” (Source #1.) To add on, he believed that people should respect and obey those above them. One of Confucius’s goals was “to bring people to a virtuous way of life” (Source #2.) In other words, Confucius didn’t believe in using military power or punishments per Source #4. However, his philosophy does take some actions and doesn’t just let things be. Per Source #3, Confucius said, “People need to treat each other as they would like to be treated.” Using Confucianism would not only inspire students to act properly, but chances are, everyone would be kinder to one another if they used the treat others how you wish to be treated saying in all their actions. Also, students who do a small wrong deed won’t be severely punished, but some action will be taken, just enough to tell the student to stop. To wrap up, Confucianism is the middle pathway to run a…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Dbq On Confucianism

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The first point to be understood about Confucianism is that it is not a religion. Confucianism is an ethical system. However, it does have religious traits (Chiyun 337). The Confucianist accepts the existence of a supreme being. Similar to how Christians accept the existence of a God. The trait of mercy and love is commonly held by Buddhism and Confucianism. Confucianist’s belief in prayer is just the same as a Christian or a Buddhist. The difference of Confucianism in relation to being a religion is that it does not promise nirvana as a reward for believing. The purpose of Confucianism is to convince people to behave by teaching different concepts.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    I consider the morality and structure of Confucianism to be a great strength. I believe that filial piety is important for family harmony and respecting your superiors is important in order to progress in society. In addition, doing good for the collective is a great philosophy to have and makes you think of your actions on a greater scope than just your individual life. However, the weaknesses of Confucianism today is that the belief in traditional roles are not as prevalent as they were thousands of years ago. For example, in Confucian belief, the woman is less than their sons and other men, however I believe…

    • 466 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucianism is a religion based on peace and equality. It centers on worshipping ancestors, it is the respect of deceased ancestors whose spirits are believed to control the opulence of others. Filial piety is also another trait that Confucianism centers on, which is the faithfulness to respect the elders of the family by the younger members. Confucianism has 6 main primary principles which is the golden rule, the gentlemanly man of virtue, the proper playing of society’s role, the power of virtue, the ideal standards of conduct, and peaceful arts. Confucius founded Confucianism. Confucius referred to himself as an examiner who deliberately tried to claim the meaning of the past by breathing vitality into seemingly outmoded…

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Economy writes, “China's current environmental situation is the result not only of policy choices made today but also of attitudes, approaches, and institutions that have evolved over centuries," The Book of Rites is a classic Chinese text contributed by Confucian scholars that has instructions to not leave untapped resources alone (Economy 4). Confucians argued the exploitation of the wealth of nature is needed for the duties of the states to provide the livelihoods needed for the people. Some took this as legitimate reasoning to exploit and manipulate the environments for the ‘glory of the states’. However, this view only accounts for one school of…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism and Daoism

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The idea of the religion of Confucianism was developed by the Chinese philosopher Confucius. The idea of Confucianism is teaching a person to be able to have the power to make the most logical decisions on their own. It teaches its followers a greater meaning for life which then helps them to better understand death. As a religion it is a different kind of religion. It is taught to followers that there should be harmony between the ancestors, humanity and Heaven, and the secular and the sacred.…

    • 515 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ideology Of Confucianism

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Every “successful” nation, or empire, requires a legitimate social, political, and economical system. These are the foundations that every humanizing system needs to improve and expand the dynamics of the country. The dynamics is the ideology that it follows and lets it govern the nation. The ideology could be a religious, economical, political, or socially motivated force the derives the whole nation forward. I will argue that Confucianism is an ideology that strongly connects politics, “ethics”, and social structures as well as influenced majority of Chinese dynasties to adapt some of its principles.…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eastern Religion

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The constant change and productivity of nature is very important. Various manuscripts in Confucian tradition stress on the intrinsic whole of humanity and the natural world. In these texts, the importance of the idea that humankind is understood to be set in nature and not dominant or more important than nature is well established. The significant worldview of Confucianism promotes harmony amidst change and this outlook is essential for seeing nature as fundamentally valuable. According to Confucianism this worldview is illustrated by four main rudiments; the first being anthropocosmic perspective or the great triad of heaven (a guiding force), nature and humans rather than an anthropocentric perspective or the belief that humans are most important in the world. The second of these key points is an organic holism of the continuity of being otherwise known as the universe seen as unified, interconnected, and interpenetrating. All action influences changes and condition. Which is why microcosm and macrocosm is so vital to Chinese cosmology. The third point is the dynamic vitalism best interpreted as the fundamentals of the core unity of reality, which is constituted of ch’i, the material force of the universe. Ch’i is the substance of life that is the source for the ongoing method of change and revolution in the universe. The final element is comprehensive ethics embracing both humans and nature.…

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    World Religion

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Confucianism has a core of morality, ethics, and activism. It encourages social harmony and mutual respect. Confucianists sought to perfect their character by living a virtuous life and seeking goodness. They valued ethics, respect for elders, and propriety. Confucius, the originator of Confucian thought, believed political order would be found by the proper ordering of human relationships, and so did not bother himself with the structure of the state. He stressed that a good government must fill their positions with well-educated and conscientious people, called Junzi. Confucius was followed by his disciples Mencius and Xunzi. They also possessed the same optimism that humans could improve themselves to perfection.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays