Midterm Flashcards
CON:
1. What’s the universe?
- Decree of Heaven vs. Destiny (Destiny is determined by one’s fate and is beyond human control) (Heaven is something that humans can pursue by way of morality)
- The Universe is inherently moral
- References Heaven because it’s the “ultimate goal”
- What is human nature?
- All humans are potentially sages
- All humans are essentially the same
- Ideal moral figure= “gentleman” (junzi)
- Humans are unfinished, malleable, in need of molding by our environment
- What are the main problems humans face in the world?
-Two main problems: Selfishness and ignorance of past
-Problems are caused by:
Attachment to profit
Lack of filial piety
Dishonesty
Deviate from the Way of the Sages (Dao)
Lack of benevolence
- How do we solve those problems?
- “Do for nothing” Act without considering reward
- Cultivate your role in family
- Make word matter. Be trustworthy
- Study hard
- Embody benevolence (Golden Rule?)
“When left to follow its natural feelings human nature will do good. That is why I say it is good. If it becomes evil, that is not the fault of man’s original capability. The sense of mercy is found in all men; the sense of shame is found in all men; the sense of respect is found in all men; sense of right and wrong is found in all men.”
CONF
Thus, we see that no man is without a sense of compassion, or sense of shame, or a sense of courtesy, or a sense of right and wrong. The sense of compassion is the beginning of humanity; the sense of shame is the beginning of righteousness; the sense of courtesy is the beginning of decorum; the sense of right and wrong is the beginning of wisdom. Every man has within himself these four beginnings, just as he has four limbs.”
CONF
“He who outrages humanity is a scoundrel; he who outrages righteousness is a scourge; a scourge or a scoundrel is a despised creature and no longer a king. I have heard that a despised creature called Chou was put to death, but I have not heard anything about the murdering of a sovereign.”
CONF
Hsun Tzu
1. What’s the universe?
-The universe is about learning- learning should never cease
Hsun Tzu
2. What is human nature?
-There is no greater godliness than to transform yourself with the Way, no greater blessing than to escape misfortune
Hsun Tzu
3. What are the main problems humans face in the world?
- What you put into the world is what you get out
- Everything you do has a consequence so do what you think is right
Hsun Tzu
4. How do we solve those problems?
-We need to learn, learning reaches its completion with the rituals, for they may be said to represent the highest point of the Way and its power
“Thus, if wood is pressed against a straightening board, it can be made straight; if metal is put to the grindstone, it can be sharpened; and if the gentleman studies widely and each day examines himself, his wisdom will become clear and his conduct be without fault.”
HT
“I once tried spending the whole day in thought, but I found it of less value than a moment of study.”
HT
“The learning of the gentleman enters his ear, clings to his mind, spreads through his four limbs, and manifests itself in his actions. His smallest word, his slightest movement can serve as a model.”
HT
“Master You [You Ruo] said, Among those who are filial toward their parents and fraternal toward their brothers, those who are inclined to offend against their superiors are few indeed. Among those who are disinclined to offend against their superiors, there have never been any who are yet inclined to create disorder. The noble person concerns himself with the root; when the root is established, the Way is born. Being filial and fraternal — is this not the root of humaneness?”
Confucian analects
The Master said, Wealth and honor are what people desire, but one should not abide in them if it cannot be done in accordance with the Way. Poverty and lowliness are what people dislike, but one should not avoid them if it cannot be done in accordance with the Way.”
Confucian analects
“Look at nothing contrary to ritual; listen to nothing contrary to ritual; say nothing contrary to ritual; do nothing contrary to ritual.”
Confucian analects
Young-oak Kim and Jung-kyu Kim — The Great Equal Society
1. What’s the universe?
- Goal of “The Great Society” elevate our national life” and “advance the quality of our American civilization”
- As society where all members autonomously do the right thing
Young-oak Kim and Jung-kyu Kim — The Great Equal Society
What is human nature?
-People are greedy and selfish
Young-oak Kim and Jung-kyu Kim — The Great Equal Society
What are the main problems humans face in the world?
-The great society failed because of the culture of greed and selfishness that is on all levels of American society
Young-oak Kim and Jung-kyu Kim — The Great Equal Society
How do we solve those problems?
- Restore Inner Morality (need to channel ren- “benevolence” “an ability to feel” “empathy”
- New Philosophy for China— and for the World (not a bunch of -isms that tell us what to believe)
- “A fundamental shift in philosophy is the only way the Chinese society as a whole can revive its aspiration of building a just and fair society” (pg. 16)
“For a truly alternative perspective, we have turned to our own tradition in the East, namely Confucianism. Confucius held that the most essential attribute of a human being is not the profit motive but ren. What is ren? While ren is commonly translated as “ benevolence,“ the term originally meant “an ability to feel“ or “ empathy“ — an ability to imagine oneself in another’s shoes — and its meaning has later expanded to include new connotations such as compassion, aesthetic sensibility, and humaneness.”
Young-oak Kim and Jung-kyu Kim
What we are saying, though, is that the death of lofty idealism, combined with the policy of “growth at all costs,“ has gradually led to the retrenchment of social values. The “Confucian“ culture we observe in China today is a very corrupt form of Confucianism, which can best be described as a toxic mixture of selfish familism and authoritarianism.”
Young-oak Kim and Jung-kyu Kim
BUDDHISM
What’s the universe?
-has no creator god to explain the origin of the universe. It teachers that everything depends on everything else: present events are caused by past events and become the cause of future events. This all happens without a gods intervention
BUDDHISM
What is human nature?
- we are only one type of sentient human being. We are essentially animals with a mind
- humans are always changing
BUDDHISM
What are the main problems humans face in the world?
Four noble truths:
- first is life is full of suffering and dissatisfaction (anxiety, insecurity, uncertainty, fear, anger…)
- change is inevitable, even good times never last
- basic problem of life is that we experience so much dissatisfaction
- second cause is craving, grasping desiring (our desires cause our troubles)
