Pros And Cons Of Confucianism

Essay 1: The Default In Human Nature

The question of good or evil has plagued human thought for centuries. Every distinct society throughout history has had a unique philosophical mindset that guided the practices in structured daily life. The west was indoctrinating Christianity into their constructed idea of self; The east without psychologists or therapists had Confucianism to make sense of life. Philosophy like religion has a main objective that aims to explain what we experience within our reality; maintaining an undertone of contentment with the inevitable fate of death. We will first look at the two schools of thought within Confucianism. There is the idealist perspective that we are naturally good with social influences corrupting
What really strengthens the realist perspective is the idea that we can knowingly alter the default by conforming to the decree of heaven, that of having virtues; alternatively, resist the decree of heaven and maintain the default of sinful
The respect of the filial piety within one's home will affect everything; like a pebble creating ripples in the water. If we are benevolent within our home, we shall as well show Jen in other facets of life. Those who have the right to rule, as not all men are created equal should therefor exhibit Ren. With Ren, the ruler like the ripple effect of upholding the filial piety can show Shu to his subordinates. “The rule of virtue is like the North Star, fixed in its position and surrounded by other stars” (Ning 66) The rule of virtue is very important with in Kongzi teachings “Lead through decree, control through punishment and the people will avoid punishment and be without shame; lead with virtue, control through propriety and there will be honor and character” (Ning 67) The idea is that a noble society, is created by changing the default of human nature in the ruler; Shu will flow into the lives of the