The Philosophy of Confucius Essay - 2244 Words

One of the widely read philosopher in the world is Kung Chiu (Kong Qiu ) commonly known as Confucius. Kung Chiu was not famous during his lifetime and traveled from state to state to gather a small group of disciples and became the first master. Confucius has an immense importance in Eastern culture and philosophy; however, there isn’t an abundance of reliable documents on the life of Confucius. The foundation of the Confucian tradition comes from concise accounts of his life and teachings in Lun Yu or The Analects. During his life Confucius never wrote any document containing his philosophies, however, the teachings of Confucius and his conversations with his disciples are recorded in The Analects by his followers hundred years after†¦show more content†¦The word that is commonly translated as rites or ritual is li. Although rites or ritual is the general meaning of li, it also include proper conduct involving sensible observance of social norms, satisfying an ethica l role devotedly, fulfilling the responsibilities associated with that one’s role. Moreover, it may be understood to include the full range of social customs, ethical norms, cultural beliefs, and principles embodied in all institutions of society. The primary explanation of why we need rites is that the rites begin with ancient practices and the Sage kings performed rites. According to Confucius when rites are complete appropriately human emotion and senses are fully articulated. Confucius strongly advocated for ritual, he believed that participation in ritual can serve to unite different people, thus strengthening the human community. According to the Lunyu (Analects), Confucius states that people out to live within the parameters firmly established by t’ien (heaven). For Confucius, Heaven is a decisive, ultimate being as well as ‘nature’ which has fixed patterns and cycles. Thus, Confucius argues that according to heaven; all men are responsible for their actions and he emphasizes ones treatment of others. Li can also be considered an invested role related to the relationship, an institution or foundation that encourages and facilitates the smooth interaction among people in order to create a sense of community. Moreover, Li provides one with socialShow MoreRelatedThe Philosophies Of Aristotle And Confucius978 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is virtue? The philosophies of Aristotle and Confucius establish virtue as a moral trait that encompasses love, courage, good manners, and happiness. To achieve virtue, one must display qualities of altruism and promote benevolence in every action. The virtuous person lives by a high moral standard that is achieved through the habitual conditioning of disposition. 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His teachings are known primarily through the Analects of Confucius, a collection