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Confucius vs. Plato.docx
Roland E. Gardner
History and Philosophy of Ideas (GRS601-SA)
Confucianism vs. Plato – The Showdown
October 14, 2012
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Abstract
Now before we begin, let’s just be honest for a moment. When we hear the term “Confucius
say”, don’t we all kind of snicker and make light of his philosophical offering as we foolishly try
to paraphrase his teachings? And when someone utters the name Plato, does our mind not picture
an ancient time when old philosophers rambled on aimlessly, spewing forth-uninteresting
opinions on topics that we cared little about? Yes, we laugh and dismiss these intellectual
figures without much thought or much reason. The stone cold reality though is that these two
philosophers nevertheless produced thought provoking teachings that are unparalleled in modern
times. Whether the prevailing thought was that their pronouncements were illuminating, or the
work of helpless optimists, they simply couldn’t be ignored. These two gentlemen courageously
paved a trail of original and innovative thought that remains with us to this day.
Confucius, the great Chinese sage, was born June 19th, 551B.C. at Shangping, in the country
of Lu. His father died when he was only three years of age, but his mother raised him very
carefully. Confucius was married at 19,but divorced his wife 4 years later so that he could
devote more time to his studies. The death of his mother occurred in his 23rd year, and set the
stage for his transition into a moral reformer. It is said that he shut himself up in his house to
pass in solitude for 3 years mourning for his mother. It is during this time that Confucius
reflected deeply on the external laws of morality, and determined to make them the immutable
rule of all of his actions. Confucius died 479 B.C., in the 70th year of his age (Biography of
Confucius).
Plato, born in Athens around 427 B.C., was considered one of the earliest philosophers. His
family was steeped in history and politics, and Plato was destined for a life in keeping with this
tradition. When he was young, he studied music and poetry, and studied the doctrines of various
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philosophers, however, when Plato met Socrates, he met his definitive teacher. Plato was in
military service from 409 B.C. to 404 B.C., and began to write extensively after 399 B.C. Plato
founded a school of learning, which he called the Academy and presided over it until his death in
347 B.C. (Plato Biography). And now here is the showdown between Confucius and Plato.
And In The Red Corner……………….Confucius
Confucianism cared little about the nature of the world, or apparently in the prerequisite
necessity of formulating or articulating a worldview. Confucianism is centralized around the
core concept of humanism. Humanism is a philosophy or practice that is based on human values
and concerns. Confucianism doesn’t involve the belief of a God or the supernatural world,
therefore is a non-theistic religion. Confucius believed that there are forces in the universe that
determine our lives: The Decree of Heaven and Destiny. The Decree of heaven was the moral
blueprint for governance based on the belief that Heaven cares profoundly about the welfare of
the common people. Heaven would support an emperor, for example, only so long as he ruled
for this purpose and no other. Confucius contended that human government was paramount, and
that only leaders of character would be worthy of heavenly rewards. He extended this doctrine
to include everyone because he felt that the Decree of heaven is within every human reach.
Confucius says that each human is potentially a sage. As for Destiny, Confucius wrote that
although we as humans have the option of exercising free will, we have no control over destiny.
Destiny is an entity, which is beyond human agency. The moral prescription that Confucius
penned could be applied to any generation. Confucius urged his pupils to do what is right, and
not what is profitable. This moral struggle he surmised achieves a union of will with the Decree
of heaven. Confucius also thought that cultivation of self as a good family member transmits
into a good citizen for a more harmonious society. Confucius did not make known his views on
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whether he felt human nature to be originally good or evil. Opposing views however are offered
by two leading figures in the Confucian tradition. Mencius declared that it is the human heart,
the thinking heart, that special gift from heaven that sets us up to be benevolent sages and
possess the seeds of compassion. Conversely, Hsun-tzu held that our interior world is dominated
by dynamic impulses of desire. He says that “ man’s nature is evil; goodness is the result of
conscious activity”, Confucius sought perfection as a man, and at 70 believed that he had
attained just that through study, conduct, and a more complete understanding of his study of the
Decree of Heaven (Stevenson & Haberman). Confucius eventually reached a point of conviction
where he understood that his free will now spontaneously acted out with perfect benevolence.
And In The Blue Corner…………………….Plato
Plato was a noted protégé of Socrates, and was shocked at the execution of “the founder of
philosophy”. He retained Socrates faith in rational inquiry however, and fashioned his own
doctrines in words. Socrates left no writings, as all of his dissertations and influences were oral.
As a young pioneering philosopher, Plato introduced the distinctive metaphysical theory of
“Forms”. Plato reasoned that these theories of ideas are the only true forms of study that can
provide us with genuine knowledge. Plato’s dialogues taught that there is a Form for every
object, and that true knowledge and intelligence is the ability to grasp the world of Form’s with
one’s mind. It is; to say the least; a difficult concept to decipher. For Plato, the Form of
goodness is preeminent in the world of Forms, and plays an almost God-like role in his system.
Plato rarely mentions God, and when he does he does not mean it in the biblical conception of a
personal being that appears to, or communicates with individual people and intervenes in human
history. Plato has in mind a more abstract idea. Plato divides human nature into two categories:
reason and pleasure. Plato theorized that each man has within him the elements of reason
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(judgment), spirit (passion), and appetite (physical urges), and that reason should exert overall
command over the other two components. Just as reason should control the other parts, those
individuals with the most highly developed “reason” or moral wisdom should likewise rule
society in the interest of the common good. Plato argues that through the proper use of our
faculty of reason, we can come to know what is good, and actually become good. Plato is an
advocate for the dualist view when the question turns to the human soul. Plato felt that the soul
is a non-material entity that can exist apart from the body. The soul exist before birth, it is
indestructible, and will exist eternally after death. Plato outlined 4 types of imperfect societies:
Timarchy, Oligarchy, Democracy, and Tyranny, and describes the defective individual
supposedly typical of each society. Finally, Plato proposed appropriate education as the key to
constructing a better society. It would, he said; produce a virtuous, harmonious, well-balanced
and “just” people. Plato therefore suggests that philosophers are the most qualified to govern
society because they know the ultimate realities including the true standards of all values. If they
were to govern, all of the problems of human nature could be solved.
And Now To The Judges Scorecards………………
The showdown has passed, the contestants have returned to their respective corners, and their
fate now rests in the hands of the judges. This was a back and forth, ebbs and flow event and the
outcome is far from certain. There were several similarities and differences among the
combatants, and they are as follows:
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Both Confucius and Plato emphasized the importance that moral conduct; above and
beyond the accepted social norms; had on society.
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Plato believed that humans simply could not be trusted, that people were born evil, and
that only educated kings could be trusted to govern. Confucius’s philosophy centered on
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the compassion of loving others, and he believed that educated leaders had an obligation
to set good examples and to rule by persuasion rather than threats of punishment.
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Confucius spoke little about women and when he did he does so in unflattering terms.
He had a decidedly masculine view of society. Plato on the other hand argues that there
is no role in society that needs to be restricted to either sex. He even writes in his
discussions of love in the Platonic Dialogues about homosexual love, which was a
socially accepted norm.
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Plato’s view of human nature was that human individuals are social creatures and was not
self-sufficient. We all have needs such as food; shelter and clothing that cannot be met
on our own. Confucius did not define human nature in any great detail. He insisted that
all human beings are fundamentally the same, and indicated that our environment and
ways of being significantly determined out character.
The judges have spoken, the totals have been tallied, and in this highly charged atmosphere
the verdict is rendered. The winner? It is philosophical split decision! There is a collective sigh
of relief from the audience as the combatants leave the ring and return to their respective
dressing rooms. It is indeed poetic justice that these two original and intellectual philosophers
have earned ample praise in the ring of public opinion. It could conclude in no other way.
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References
Biography of Confucius Retrieved October 12, 2012 from
http://www.sacklunch.net/biography/C/Confucius.html
Plato Biography Retrieved October 12, 2012 from http://www.egs.edc/library/plato/biography/
Stevenson, L. & Haberman, D.L. (2009). Ten Theories of Human Nature (Fifth Edition). New
York: Oxford. Oxford University Press 2009