1. The Foundations of Chinese Philosophy: The Confucian Ethos San-pao Li, Ph.D. Department of Asian and Asian American Studies California State University, Long Beach California, U.S.A. February 19, 2004

2. The Anthropocosmic Unity: Heaven, Earth, and Man

3. Ethos The characteristic and distinguishing attitudes, habits, beliefs, etc. of an individual or of a group The characteristic and distinguishing attitudes, habits, beliefs, etc. of an individual or of a group

4. The Confucian Ethos For nearly 2,500 years Confucianism remained both a dominant intellectual force and a forceful ethical system that molded and conditioned many aspects of Chinese culture. For nearly 2,500 years Confucianism remained both a dominant intellectual force and a forceful ethical system that molded and conditioned many aspects of Chinese culture.

5. 5 An Outline Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” (520 B.C.-220 B.C.) Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” (520 B.C.-220 B.C.) Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucianism Confucianism

6. 6 An Outline Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” (520 B.C.-220 B.C.) Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” (520 B.C.-220 B.C.) Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucianism Confucianism

7. Yu-lan Fung, History of Chinese Philosophy ê Period of the Philosophers: The Classical Period ê Period of Classical Learning

8. Period of the Philosophers Zi or Tzu= Master ê Kung Fu Tzu (Kongfuzi, Confucius) ê Meng Tzu (Mengzi, Mencius) ê Lao Tzu (Laozi) ê Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) ê Hsun Tzu (Xunzi) ê Han Fei Tzu (Hanfeizi)

9. Period of Classical Learning (2nd century B.C. - 20th century) ê Confucian scholars/philosophers ê Neo-Confucianism ê Buddhism (The only newly introduced thought-system in this period

10. The “Hundred Schools” ê Confucianism (Confucius, Mencius) ê Taoism/Daoism (Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu) ê Moism (Mo Tzu) ê Legalism (Han Fei Tzu)

11. The “Hundred Schools” ê Dialecticians/Logicians ê Yin-Yang philosophers ê Agriculturalists ê Militarists

12. 12 An Outline Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucianism Confucianism

13. Karl Jaspers, The Great Philosophers The four “paradigmatic individuals” ê Socrates ê Buddha ê Confucius ê Jesus

14. Karl Jaspers, The Great Philosophers The four “paradigmatic individuals” ê By being what they were, did more than other men to determine the history of man ê Their influence extends through two millennia down to our own day ê They became the foundations of powerful philosophical movements ê Not philosophers themselves, but they have had extraordinary impact for all philosophies

15. Michael H. Hart The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History See transparency See transparency

16. 16 An Outline Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” Intellectual Flowering in Early China: The “ Hundred Schools ” Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucius as a “ paradigmatic individual ” Confucianism Confucianism

17. Confucianism

18. Man---Ethics The “self” and the “society” The “self” and the “society” è cultivation of the self è self--family--state--world è inner-sageliness and outer-kingliness è the process of daily renewal è the concept of “self-renovation” è transforming potential è a process of becoming è from “what is” to “what should be”

19. Man---Ethics ê The five cardinal human relationships ê The hierarchical structure: misinterpretations from the Han ê Core values in Confucianism benevolence,loyalty, filial piety, and social decorum benevolence,loyalty, filial piety, and social decorum ê The physical, natural order and the social, moral order are identical and often spoken as one and the same.

20. Man---Ethics The Five Cardinal Human Relations Self Monarch-Subject Father-SonHusband-Wife Brother-Brother Friend-Friend

21. Man---Ethics The Core Values in Confucianism Ren (Benevolence) Zhong (Loyalty) Xiao (Filial Piety) Jie (Chastity) Li (Rites) Xin (Faithfulness)

22. Man---Ethics The concept of “filial piety” Complete devotion, honor, respect, and obedience to one’s parents, living and deceased. Complete devotion, honor, respect, and obedience to one’s parents, living and deceased.

23. Man---Ethics The concept of “righteousness” è A universal and “holistic” expression of all the general virtues in the Confucian system è Any failure to actualize a potential virtue and any infraction against or nonfulfillment of loyalty, filial piety, chastity, or even the principle of faithfulness among friends disqualifies a person from being considered “righteous.” è The attainment of it represents a summa summarum or moral completion.

24. Man---Ethics The concept of “righteousness”

25. Man---Ethics ê Confucian personality is not private but public ê Publicly accountable and communally significant

26. Man---Ethics ê The Confucian “subjectivity” ê A moral concept sui generis ê “It is man who magnifies the Dao; the Dao does not magnify a man.” ê The concept of “matching Heaven” ê Charles A. Moore, The Chinese Mind ê “The ethical and the spiritual are one in China” ê Faust and Prometheus

27. Confucianism ê Advocated humanism ê Stressed personal cultivation ê A system of intense moralism and humanism ê Identified politics with ethics ê Attempted to restore social order (“rectification of names“)

28. The Anthropocosmic Unity: Heaven, Earth, and Man

29. The Foundations of Chinese Philosophy: The Confucian Ethos San-pao Li, Ph.D. Department of Asian and Asian American Studies California State University, Long Beach California, U.S.A. February 19, 2004

30. 30 Thank you!  Your comments and questions  are welcome!