Confucius
Confucius
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Lived 551-479(?) BCE
earned a living as a traveling philosopher & advisor
to princely courts
his teachings (sayings) were collected by his
disciples in the Analects
 Confucius lived during a time of great disorder in
China. He was profoundly affected by the chaos he
saw around him. As a result, he sought to create a
philosophy and guide to living that would ensure order
in society. His philosophy sought to answer the
question, “What principles, ethical and political,
should guide human conduct to ensure an orderly
society?”
Basic Principles
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What is Jen? “ren”
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human heartedness; goodness; benevolence, man-toman-ness; what makes man distinctively human (that
which gives human beings their humanity).
whatever affects one, affects all & all have jen
“Do not do unto others what you do not wish done to
yourself.”
jen should always be expressed in action
Basic Principles
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According to Confucius, what is the right action?
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that which ensures order in society
in order to do so, individuals must fulfill definite roles
in society
Basic Principles
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What are those roles? (the five key relationships
which govern human society)
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ruler to subject (loyalty)
father to son (filial piety)
husband to wife (love & obedience)
older brother to younger brother (brotherliness)
friend to friend (faithfulness)
Basic Principles
 in each relationship, there are duties and
responsibilities that each person owes the other; one
person has authority over the other
 the subordinate should give loving obedience to the
superior
 the superior should be lovingly responsible for the
subordinate
China’s Worldview
 How would a strong belief in Confucianism affect the
way you acted and the way you viewed the world?
 Identify 3 specific examples from your life where you
would have acted or thought differently in the past
month if you were a follower of Confucius.