Preview

Four Great Revolutions in Philosophy

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1313 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Four Great Revolutions in Philosophy
Throughout the history of the universe, there have been revolutions that shaped the history of the world. However, none have had such a great impact as the four great revolutions in thought and religion. Included, are the philosophy of China, religion in India, religion of the Jews, and Greek Philosophy. They all have many things in common, but each are unique as well.

The four great revolutions occurred in or near original river valley systems, and they were all born through a crisis. Each of the reformations is responsible for much of the cultural history of the world, because once the cultural pattern was set, it endured. Finally, it all began when people started to question their existence.

When the, relatively speaking, "modern" philosophy of the east was created, China was going through a crisis. New territorial states were replacing the traditional city-states. Peasant armies with new technology were replacing old nobility. The old etiquette and old rituals were crumbling. People yearned for a new, peaceful society. Thus, Confucianism was born.

Confucius was born in 551 BCE in northeast China. He was educated and was a member of the lower-nobility. When Confucius was young, his father died, so he knew what it was like to be without. Confucius didn't believe in an afterlife, and in the Analects, he was quoted as saying, "How can you understand death if you cannot understand life?"

Later in life, he became a traveling teacher, trying to persuade rulers to buy his ideas to return society back to the times of the Chou Dynasty, where everyone in society had a role to play. These roles consisted of five relationships: Ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, older brother to younger brother, and friend to friend. Confucius believed that if everyone stood to their position, society would be in harmony. However, when the well-being of a society depends on individuals living up to their responsibilities, things can go wrong fairly quickly.

It became

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Belief systems and religions around the world are often established in particular regions. The various beliefs of belief systems influence a society’s social, economic, and political aspects: belief systems of a society shape the way it functions, grows, and prospers – they form a society’s culture. Two exemplary paradigms that portray this ideology are Hinduism and Confucianism.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    this philosophy was based on the teachings of Kongfuzi. He was born in the small country of Lu, Eastern China. He experienced first hand the chaos that went out when the lords fought for power. Kongfuzi deeply respected chinese traditions, such as reverence given to scholars. He also saw that society and government had to change if there was ever going to be peace and order in China. Confucianism was formed in 500 b.c.e, it was used there on. He also had books that explained that philosophy. Much of what Kongfuzi taught was revolutionary at the time. He mainly taught social teachings and political teachings too.…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Golden Age DBQ

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Han Dynasty benefitted from Confucianism and became the official belief system of China. Confucianism is a philosophy concerned with human beings, their…

    • 1002 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He studied and reflected on and taught the "literature" at the center of Chinese culture in its formative period. He consolidated the ancient texts and contributed commentaries upon them. He spoke about and answered questions about the most serious matters of concern to human beings. Confucianism is humanism, a philosophy or attitude that is concerned with human beings, their achievements and interests, rather than with the abstract beings and problems of theology. Confucianism was founded by the philosopher Confucius. Confucius lived from 551-479 B.C. In many ways, Confucian philosophy is a middle-ground between the harsh doctrines of the Legalist school of philosophy. Legalist philosophy adheres to rules and custom, but it pushes punishment and discipline, and it lacks the emphasis…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ideology Of Confucianism

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Confucianism was created by the thoughts and ideas of Kong Fuzi, also known as Confucius. Confucius was born in the Lu state in 551 BC. When…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Revolution: an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed (Dictionary.com). This definition explains what a revolution is, but not the many reasons of why it happens. Every revolution in history has happened because people were being treated poorly and felt the need to fix their quality of life, so they rebelled against their government. Most revolutions were won and people gained many new freedoms & liberties, and new governments were put in place to uphold better rights. Some failed as well in their fight for more freedoms; yet these still affected history, and some change or progress was still made. Three key revolutions that had great impacts on the world were the American Revolution of 1776 (which started in 1763), the French Revolution of 1789, and the German Revolution of 1848. All three revolutions had major gains and even some losses that shaped not only their history, but the rest of the world for years to come.…

    • 1111 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Revolutions have been a part of political affairs for centuries. It’s ideologies, it’s leaders, it’s successes and failures have shaped the history of nations worldwide. Revolutions have existed throughout human history and differ widely in terms of methods, motivating ideology and duration.Their results include major changes in economy, socio-political and culture institutions. This comparative essay focuses on three major revolutions, beginning with the Industrial revolution in the eighteenth century, and continuing with the French and Russian revolutions.…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucius believed that people have specific roles in society. He believed that their inherent desire to live around other people, or in a society, depended on people knowing how to behave in their own role. Confucius established the Five Great Relationships to help people understand the order of living in a society. The Five Great Relationships are ruler and subject; father and son; elder brother and younger brother; husband and wife; friend and friend. These five relationships establish where most people fall in their lives with other people. Understanding the idea of obedience and respect to their elders or superiors and also that the elder or superior has a duty of responsibility back to the subordinate is the basis of the Five Great Relationships.…

    • 531 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are several ways that the philosophical movements of China shaped the civilization. Confucianism is just one of them which started in the Han Dynasty, another is legalism which started in the Qin Dynasty, and the last is taoism which was just a local superstition.…

    • 463 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Confucianism and Judge Dee

    • 1446 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In order to examine the stories, the Confucius principal should first be discussed in great depth. Confucius sees social order as a series of status groups and graded roles, from the ruler at the top through officials, scholars, gentleman, all the way to the father of the family; all with authority over, as well as a responsibility to set a good example to those below them. The key element of these interpersonal relationships is right relationships (also known as five relationships). These relationships refer to the ties between father and son, ruler and subject, husband and wife, elder brother and younger brother, and those between friends. [1]…

    • 1446 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Eastern Religion Paper

    • 2178 Words
    • 9 Pages

    During the course of the last five weeks, I have studied several different religions. This included stating what my personal belief system was, Hindu religions, Buddhism religions, and constructing an Eastern religion element matrix and graphic organizer. I have personally discussed with my instructor my views on religion as humanity, history, basic teachings, writings, symbols, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism. During this paper, I will attempt to explain the contemporary forms of Eastern religions. I will explain how societal views of spirituality and religion have been influenced by Confucianism in China and Japan and how social and political life has been impacted by Confucianism traditions.…

    • 2178 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism began as the thoughts and ideas of a man named Confucius who lived at around 500 B.C. It is interesting to note this was around the same time Buddha was supposedly alive. Confucian was not a prophet, and had little to say about gods, death, or the afterlife. He developed instead three concepts of living that formed the basis of his philosophy. First, every person should accept an assigned role in society and perform the duties of that role. Second, the government should be virtuous. Finally, only well-educated and extremely virtuous officials should be appointed to run the government. According to legend, Confucius worked as a minister in his native province of Shandong. It is said that in a less than a year, almost all crime was gone. However, after this it is said nearby emperors became jealous and forced him to retire. For the rest of his years he educated people on the ways of his teaching and stirred thought into the minds of many.…

    • 540 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Confucianism resulted from a Chinese philosopher named Kongfuzi (551-479 B.C.E), also known as Confucius, becoming disheartened with the way the government ignored his ideas of how to create a just, harmonious society. His teachings, which he had passed on to his followers/students, include the Analects. It is within this document that he tried to teach men how to be gentlemen. If a man were able to follow the steps to becoming a gentleman and complete the duties of his status, that gentleman could influence others in society to be honorable, hard working, honest, and just. However, within Confucianism, class and gender was a huge factor. Women were often considered less important as were lower class peoples. Only the well off male members of society could receive the required education required to be a gentleman. An example of this is: “The Master said, A gentleman who is widely versed in letters and at the same time knows how to submit his learning the restraints of ritual is not likely, I think, to go far wrong.”…

    • 976 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism vs Daoism

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Confucius was born in an era of war and disparity. As a well-educated philosophical man, he realized the problem was chaos and unrest. He believed that order needed to be restored in humanity. In time he created a hierarchical social order that emphasized the importance of relationships: Ruler/Subject, Father/son, husband/wife, elder brother/younger brother, friend/friend. Unlike most social orders in societies though, these five primary relationships were a 2-way functioning system, each of which working for the other. For example, one relationship he listed being the ruler and the subject, in which the subject respects and works for the ruler and in turn the ruler must provide safety and well being to his subjects.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Teacher and Confucius

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In everyday life Confucius was a relaxed and cheerful man who was constantly in search of new knowledge. He studied the Chinese Classics mainly focusing on the Books of Odes, History and Rites. In his spare time, however, he liked to relax in his manor. He was very picky with the people he chose to keep around. They had to love strategy and the possible success you could get from it. He taught culture, conduct, conscientiousness and good faith and was also picky about who he let in to his school. They had to be modest and willing to listen because he didn’t repeat lessons. He loved music. He would sing in the company of those who were singing. When passing through Ch’I he heard their music and said, “I did not imagine that music had reached such perfection.” (Confucius 35). This having been said he also traveled with his students and neglected his family duty. Once when his son saw him in passing and Confucius asked him if he had “Studied the Odes?” (Confucius 102) His son said no so Confucius told him that he would have nothing to use in conversation. So his son left determined to study the book of Odes. On a different day his son saw him again and a similar thing happened only this time Confucius asked about the Rules of Ceremony. The result was exactly the same as the first time. This goes to prove that those who can teach don’t always put their own teachings in to practice.…

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays