Confucius Analects Flashcards
CA: What does the Analects subsist of?
Brief passages that present the words of Confucius and his disciples.
Describe Confucius as a man.
Recount some events of his life.
CA: How many books does the Analects contain?
20,
each featuring a series of chapters encompassing quotes from Confucius
CA: When and by who were the Analects scribed?
After the death of Confucius, by his disciples
CA: What are the core concepts of Confucius’s ideology?
-The Tao (The Way)
-The chun-tzu (The Gentleman)
-Li (ritual)
Jen (Goodness)
CA: What is the Tao?
- The Tao, or the way, refers to the literal path. The manner in which anything is done.
- Confucius often mentions Tao under Heaven, meaning a good path to achieving morally superior ends.
CA: What is Jen?
- chunt-tzu (the gentleman) possess this quality.
- Words like “altruistic” or “benevolence” are useful in understanding of this term.
- What makes man distinctively human.
- While a definition is never given he does characterize it as a sense of dignity of human life.
- It cannot be attained but its pursuit is what makes life worth living.
CA: What is chun-tzu?
- The ideal man
- Similar to Nietzsche’s Ubermensch
- The central term of The Analects, the other terms are generally used in reference to this persona.
- He follows the way, acts according to a selfless, and rare system of morals and beliefs.
CA: What is Li
- Ritual
- Concrete guide to human relationships or rules of proper action that genuinely embody Jen.
- General principle of social order or the ordering of life.
CA: What setting did Confucius live in?
6th Century, during the time of powerful warlords and families dominated the Lu state of ancient China.
- The warlords altered the normal structure of government and social rituals and this annoyed Confucius.
- Confucius sought a revival of Chou traditions. (Li)
CA: When did Confucius live? What period of Dynasty?
6th Century
- State of Lu
- Spring and Autumn Period
CA: In what context did Confucius return to Lu?
He attempted to seek out a ruler who would embody the Chou traditions, but eventually returned to Lu to teach young men about them.
CA: What setting did Confucius live in?
6th Century, during the time of powerful warlords and families dominated the Lu state of ancient China.
- The warlords altered the normal structure of government and social rituals and this annoyed Confucius.
- Confucius sought a revival of Chou traditions. (Li)
How are Confucius and Socrates arguably philosophically consistent?
They both believe in the wisdom to not knowing. One who claims he knows all knows nothing.
Oracle at Delphi.
CA: In what context did Confucius return to Lu?
He attempted to seek out a ruler who would embody the Chou traditions, but eventually returned to Lu to teach young men about them.
CA: What did Confucius believe about wealth and power?
He deemed them negligable as long as the wealthy were humble and followed the rites/Tao, and as long as the poor were joyful.
This contradicts the warring rulers of the Lu.
How are Confucius and Socrates arguably philosophically consistent?
They both believe in the wisdom to not knowing. One who claims he knows all knows nothing.
Oracle at Delphi.
CA: How is Confucius regarded in China? Both today and in his own time?
- He has earnt such great respect that westerners believed confucianism to be a religion.
- There are still shrines where “The great teacher” is worshipped today
CA: What form of philosophy is The Analects?
A social philosophy, based on concepts of order, rule and civility.
It does not claim an understanding of the universe but rather the ideals needed to be a good person, a good citizen, and to maintain peace/order.
CA: What happened in 100BC (300 odd years after his death)?
Confucius’ social guidelines were made the official ethical system of the state, a position held until the 20th century.
CA: How did Confucius see himself?
- As simply a “transmitter who invented nothing”
- Someone tasked to create “unity all pervading”
