Essay One Brian Munoz Philosophy 10/23/15 What Are We - What are we? In this essay, I’ll be comparing and contrasting the four views of human nature that we have studied so far – Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Platonism – critically examining their similarities and differences. Also, I’ll be explaining which one I think provides the most plausible understanding of what we are. First, I will introduce each of the four views of human nature by defining them. Then, I will elaborate and thoroughly explain what each one claims that we are. Confucianism is a system of philosophical and "ethical-sociopolitical teachings" sometimes described as a religion. Confucianism developed during the Spring and Autumn Period from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BCE), who considered himself a retransmitter of Zhou values. As Jeffrey Richey stated in his overview, “The purpose of existence is to reach one 's highest potential as a human being” (Richey 1). Through a rigorous process of self-cultivation that lasts a lifetime, one may eventually become a "perfected person." The relentless quest for virtue begins with the most basic human activities, such as mindful direction of one 's sight, hearing, speech, and action. Hinduism is the dominant religion, or way of life, in South Asia, most notably in India and Nepal. Although Hinduism contains a broad range of philosophies, it is a family of linked religious cultures bound by shared concepts, recognizable rituals,
Hinduism is a religion practiced all over the world and has gained a large following. Hinduism got its start in the Indus Valley civilization and since then has evolved into a open and tolerant religion upon which every and anybody from all walks of life are welcome. In Hinduism there is a divine reality which can best be described as all reality is ultimately one for monistic Hindus or that there is no distinction between the divine reality and the rest of reality for dualistic Hindus. Either way it is put Hindus try to understand divine reality through their different gods, images, nature, and avatars.
Confucianism has been a part of Chinese culture for over a thousand years. Many who have studied Confucianism would say that it is not a religion. It is better described as a philosophy or moral code. The philosophy of Confucianism comes mainly from the speeches and writings of Confucius, a great Chinese thinker and educator. He believed that Humanity, Rite, Neutrality, Virtue, Education, and Cultivation were the basis of human behavior. In addition, Confucius felt that this philosophy was the best way for people to behave and interact with others in society.
Hinduism is the name given to a family of religions and cultures that began and still flourish in India. The word “Hindu,” comes from the name of the river Indus, which flows from Tibet through Kashmir and Pakistan to the sea. It originally referred to the people living in that particular region of the world, regardless of their faith. Hinduism has no original founder and is one of the world’s largest religions following Christianity and Islam, with approximately a billion adherents. Hinduism is henotheistic, which is the devotion to a single god while accepting the existence of other gods. Their god is present in everything, and they believe that their soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of being born into a body, dying, and then becoming reborn into another body, whether it is human, animal or spirit. Hindu’s also strongly believe in karma, which is a force that determines the quality of each life, depending on how well one behaved in a past life. Hindu’s do not separate religion from other aspects of their life. Hinduism in India dictates Hindu’s lives in that it involves a caste system which controls their position in society, assists them in earning a living, helps manage how they raise their a family and controls their diets. Hindu’s believe that freedom or liberation is the true goal in life. True freedom is the freedom from all external conditioning influences, whether of body or mind. This is the freedom of Self-realization,
Karma affects the self, or soul, in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism religions and these religions have similar beliefs but each has their own interpretation of how karma affects the self of someone. Humans’ relationship with nature plays a significant role in Indigenous, Daoism, and Shinto religions. The Confucian virtues of Ren, Five Great Relationships, Li, Tian, and Yin and Yang all explain certain beliefs of Confucianism in different ways of life.
Confucianism has been for over 25 centuries, the dominant philosophical system in China and the guiding light in almost every aspect of Chinese life. Confucius and his followers traveled throughout the many feudal states of the Chinese empire, persuading rulers to adopt his social reforms. They did not offer a point-by-point program, but stressed instead the "Way," or "One Thread," Jen, which is (translated as "humanity or love") that runs through all Confucius' teachings. They urged individuals to strive for perfect virtue, righteousness (called Yi) and improvement of character. They taught the importance of harmony in the family, order in the state and peace in the empire, which they saw as inherently interdependent. Teachings emphasize a code of conduct, self-cultivation and propriety - and thus the attainment of social and national order. Stress is more on human duty and the ideal of the "superior man" than on a divine or supramundane Reality. Still, Confucius fasted, worshiped
Confucianism focuses on rituals and the proper behavior of the culture. There is a belief that what you are is your place in society and one must be okay with that. One has to learn to be okay with their life or situations because nature will always run its course even with interruption. Confucius’ main goal was to explain proper character through observation, studying, and self-reflection. Which could be found in nature and the way nature works. Which relates to the quote “Those who know don’t talk. Those who talk don’t know” because those who know, learn through observing their surrounding. A human reaches potential when they are able to recognize their true self, what nature is, and how to follow their nature. To me knowing who they are
British politician William Pitt once said that “[u]nlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it; and this I know … that where law ends, tyranny begins”. Pitt’s assertion is substantiated by William Shakespeare’s 17th century tragedy entitled Macbeth, where the protagonist Macbeth commits unspeakable crimes in his pursuit of power, including the murders of many innocent people such as King Duncan I of Scotland, Macduff’s entire family, and his friend Banquo. Consequently, Macbeth becomes paranoid and is ultimately slain by Macduff at the end of play. Macbeth’s lust for power leads him to his downfall as it causes him to slowly metamorphose from a courageous, loyal, and noble general to a brutal, cruel and inhumane tyrant.
During the fifth and sixth centuries, history documents the beginning of two particular religious practices Buddhism, an Indian religion, and Confucianism, a Chinese religion. Although these two practices occur during different times and in different cultures, separating these two practices due to traditional differences, there are still some similarities that are found in common among them. These two religious traditions are similar in that they both propose a path to be followed and support the idea of becoming good by doing good, yet they differ in their views of religious and philosophical goals. First, both of these religious traditions propose a “path” that one should follow. According to Buddhism, the “path” they choose to pursue is known best as the Eightfold Path, which is documented as the fourth Noble truth.
Confucianism was invented in the 400th century BCE. Confucius was just a man who was tired of all the Chinese wars between the states, and created a way of life in China to keep the peace. This happened by making people be respected, as well as training them to respect others. This belief is still alive, and well in China, and many people follow Confucius' beliefs to this day.
The Confucian beliefs are seen by the world as a type of relationship with between the individual, their family and state. This makes it difficult to see Confucianism as anything more than a way of life. Similar to Buddhists, Confucianism focuses on the individual and their relationships with the world around them. The relationships that are considered the Five Basic Relationships are the parent and child, husband and wife, elder and younger brother, friend and friend, and ruler and subject. Confucianism places superiority on these relationships. The belief is that when one fulfills their part in the relationship they will obtain balance and harmony within. Confucius believed when individuals live a virtuous life it will result in a prosperous
Confucianism originated in Ancient China. It was devised by Confucius (A.K.A Kongzi) an ancient Chinese Philosopher born in 551 BC. His father was a military officer and died when Confucius was just 3 years old and was raised primarily by his Mother. He was married at 19 and had a kid, his second one was believed to have died in labor. He would collect the history of ancient china and write it down in what is called the Analects, which is where much of our knowledge of ancient china comes from. His teachings were based on the belief that humans behave ethically and had a seed of virtue. He believe all humans were naturally good until coerced and persuaded
There were numerous religions that were rehearsed among the general population of central Asia back in the early second and third hundreds of years and forward. Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were among the principle three religions rehearsed then. Buddhism has been around since 273 B.C. It started out in India and went into central Asia and proceeded into Korea and Japan getting to be one of the actual religions in all of imperative China. By the ninth century, 9-tenths of the populace in northwest China have been converted over to Buddhism.
Confucianism is an East Asian philosophy built up by a Chinese philosopher, Confucius (K'ung Fu-tzu), in the 6th - 5th century BCE. It’s a philosophy based on human morals and relationships.
Hinduism is the world's third most popular religion and it is a major religion in India. Hinduism developed out of Brahmanism from 2300- 1500 BC. They believe in
What is the ideal person supposed to be or do? In any religious system, this is always the paramount question. Confucianism itself is not a religion, per se, but a set of first principles of social organization and behavior, so there are no larger otherworldly implications to the Confucian plan for humanity. For Confucius, life consists of ethical principles: the central problem with humanity is anything which exacerbates human tendencies towards social disharmony. The Confucian system is one in which social order is paramount: Douglas Soccio defines Confucius not as a religious figure or philosopher per se, but as "the social sage" (Soccio 33). Confucius offers no prescriptions about deities or the afterlife, but instead gives rules of conduct in essence a manual of etiquette, which manages to raise etiquette to the level of a Kantian moral imperative which results in the larger set of ethical precepts that comprise the teachings of Confucius.