AGENDA – 9/26 TURN IN: -Socratic Seminar evaluation sheet -Greek Rationalists packet TOMORROW: TODAY: Share about our weekends! Chalk talk: Chinese philosophies Hand out note packet Socratic seminar responses: due FRIDAY! Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Legalism, Taoism

Confucianism, legalism, and Taoism CHINESE PHILOSOPHIES Confucianism, legalism, and Taoism

What principles should guide human conduct & ensure order in society? Philosophy What principles should guide human conduct & ensure order in society? How did the development of philosophical traditions affect political systems, social classes, and gender roles?

Historical context: Circa 475 – 221 BCE China divided into seven major states Literally hundreds of wars Rulers claimed Mandate of Heaven to justify conquest Qin Dynasty wins

Discussion: How will this historical context impact the development of Chinese philosophies? What will philosophers seek to do? How does this relate to the Axial Age?

Dynastic China: Three Schools of Thought Confucianism, Daoism & Legalism

Confucius Lived 551-479 BC Analects- Offered solutions to the problems plaguing China Focus on THIS LIFE, not the afterlife

CONFUCIANISM Based on relationships and respect Hierarchical and harmonious relationships Society functions when everyone plays their part Li = rituals of everyday life Mutual respect Education highly important

CONFUCIANISM - RELATIONSHIPS 1. Ruler Subject 2. Father Son Filial piety  respect your elders! Status Age Gender 3. Husband Wife 4. Older Brother Younger Brother 5. Older Friend Younger Friend Loyalty, honesty, and obedience to superiors

CONFUCIANISM: SOCIAL IMPACT Becomes foundation of Chinese government Reinforced: importance of patriarchal relationships family as the center of Chinese society

DAOISM Founded by Laozi, 604-531 BCE Dao = “the path” Look toward nature for understanding and comfort Goal: Create societal harmony by living according to the natural laws of the universe Formed as a result from witnessing the Warring States period

DAOISM People should live the natural way- humans can achieve happiness by living simply in harmony with nature Emphasizes acceptance and individual retreat from society Rely on senses and instinct to discover the nature and ‘rhythm’ of the universe

BALANCE OF OPPOSITES Yang Yin OPPOSITES MUST BE IN BALANCE Masculine Active Light Warmth Strong Heaven; Sun Feminine Passive Darkness Cold Weak Earth; Moon Yang OPPOSITES MUST BE IN BALANCE

DAOISM strive to maintain balance of yin & yang cultural institutions harmful & unnecessary humans must ignore: education societal rules of behavior must seek Dao through intuition & meditation

Daoism: political ideas Believed government caused many problems in society but necessary to promote human happiness Role of government: should feed people & keep away from scholars “best government governed least” many people believed this was impractical

Legalism Founder: Han Feizi Teachings: Best way to control humans Humans are born evil & selfish People do not respond to good examples did not agree with Confucius Best way to control humans Harsh punishments System of rewards & punishments Group responsibility

Legalism: political ideas Powerful absolute ruler Threat of punishment will: force people to give up their individuality to the absolute ruler No place for: morality religion

SOUTH ASIAN RELIGIONS:

HINDUISM – INDIA Aryan invasion to the Indus Valley Polytheistic Vedas: hymns, rituals, texts Upanishads: outlines basic beliefs (Brahman) Caste system – social organization based on hereditary And, originally, color of skin

HINDUISM – INDIA Karma – if you do good, good will happen to you; if you do bad, bad will happen to you Dharma – fulfilling your castely duty Samsara – circle of birth, death, and rebirth Moksha – release from samsara; uniting with the divine Brahma, the creator Vishnu, the preserver Shiva, the destroyer

BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama – the “Buddha,” or “enlightened one” All life is suffering; the cause of suffering is desire; to stop suffering, stop desiring Therefore, Buddhists live lives relatively free of material possession

BUDDHISM Karma – if you do good, good will happen to you; if you do bad, bad will happen to you Samsara – circle of birth, death, and rebirth Nirvana – release from samsara; uniting with the divine Eightfold Path Four Noble Truths

BUDDHISM– INDIA AND CHINA

Hinduism only Buddhism only Both Reincarnation Cyclical view of history Belief in a state of enlightenment (Hindu moksha, Buddhist nirvana) The Middle Way (Eightfold Path) Four Noble Truths Caste system Vegetarian

RECAP Universalizing religions: religions with a core of beliefs that transcend cultures and actively recruit new adherents (anyone can convert) Examples?? Ethnic religions: religions that create strong social bonds between people but mainly are restricted to one ethnic group (people can’t always readily convert; not a strong missionary aspect)