Questions tagged [confucius]
Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese philosopher and politician.
17
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2
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0answers
25 views
Is Confucius' small man concerned with other people's inferiority, rather than his own superiority?
Is Confucius' small man concerned with other people's inferiority, rather than his own superiority? Book XV 21 says
The Master said, "What The Gentleman seeks, he seeks within himself;
what the ...
-1
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1answer
74 views
Does this Confucius quote about time of achievement make sense in the modern world? [closed]
Confucius said:
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
I have doubts about it. You may manage in slow ancient China, but in our rapid world, which so quickly developing, ...
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0answers
33 views
Is Aristotle’s virtue theory somewhat similar to the Doctrine of the mean?
Doctrine of the mean: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctrine_of_the_Mean
The two theories strike me as surprisingly similar in how they emphasize “the right amount”: not lacking and also not in ...
1
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2answers
252 views
What did Confucius mean by reflection and imitation?
Confucius said that there are 3 methods to learn wisdom: by imitation, experience and reflection.
Experience is clear, what about imitation and the most unclear - reflection?
0
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1answer
57 views
What are the most probable interpretations of the following Confucius' quote?
"They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it."
I can see the most straightforward interpretation of it's first two parts ...
1
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0answers
43 views
What does 'they' refer to?
The passage below is from “Japanese Philosophy – A source book.”
*Their reproductive activity has neither beginning nor end; it is without temporality. The sovereign Lord Above alone is thus the ...
2
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4answers
165 views
Why, according to Lu Xun, is exaltation a method of suppression?
I'm currently reading an edition of the Analects with an introduction that talks about Lu Xun. It quotes him as saying
Whenever a truly original genius appears in this world, people immediately ...
2
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0answers
78 views
Korean Neo-Confucianism
What are the differences between the Neo-Confucian beliefs of Yi-Hwang ( Toi Gye)and Yi I (Yul Gok)?
I study ITF Taekwondo, and our patterns are named for significant people, places, groups, or ...
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0answers
235 views
Which form of human nature, Renxing, do you think is more logical?
In Chinese philosophy, there are 2 main views of human nature, also known as renxing, as proposed by Mengzi and Xunzi. I want to know which philosophy seems more logical or correct.
Mengzi says ...
3
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1answer
624 views
When were the works of Confucius first translated to the West?
I want to know how much the Enlightenment philosophers knew of the works of Confucius. This page cites a translation from 1687 into Latin, while Wikipedia talks of 3 different translations before 1700,...
7
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1answer
320 views
Xunzi - If inborn human tendencies are evil, how are we supposed to rectify ourselves?
From what I read on Xunzi, humans need education and ethical norms in order to remove their natural evil. Since masters are humans giving education to their disciples there appears to be a logical ...
5
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1answer
450 views
How have scholars reconciled Analects 14.16-17 with 15.7?
In Annping Chin's translation of the Analects (Penguin Classics, 2014), Confucius praises Guan Zhong in 14.16-17 for the work he did under a conqueror of questionable morality. He defends Guam Zhong ...
0
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1answer
428 views
How are virtue and learning related for Confucius?
I'm reading The Analects, by Confucius, and have a question.
According to Confucius, can non-virtue be learned?
There's no clear answer to this, so far, in the text.
2
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1answer
151 views
Is there a concept of Chinese filial peity analogous to 'making your parents proud'?
I understand that Chinese philosophy tends to venerate ancestors and the old. Does any, I suppose Confucian, concept revolve around the everyday notion of making your parents proud?
12
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3answers
688 views
Should this view of Zi Lu's be called “deontology” or “virtue ethics”?
Zi lu (Wade Giles: Tzu Lu) commented:
... Not to enter public life is to ignore one's duty.
Even the proper regulation of old and young cannot be set aside. How, then,
can the duty between ...
4
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7answers
4k views
What does “action without acting” (wuwei) in Chinese philosophy mean?
Source: p 67, Introducing Philosophy for Canadians: A Text with Integrated Readings (2011 1 ed) by Solomon, McDermid
How can one act without acting?
The question above is based on pp 65-67, which ...
6
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3answers
8k views
Did Confucius say “Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws”?
It is claimed here that Confucius said:
Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.
Is this true? If so, in what work did he say this?
