Confucianism

Dao

Individual alignment with Tian through ritual performance, the way humans ought to behave in society

Li

ritual performance

ritual performance

performance of ritualized action that leads to virtue cultivation

ren

pure goodness/humanity

junzi

the embodiment ren, morally superior person

wuwei

effortless aciton

tian

heaven, not an afterlife. The order of the world.

filial piety

respect for parents, crucible virtue

Spring and Autumn Period

First half of Zhou Dynasty, gradual erosion of royal power

Warring States Period

time of intense warfare and political upheaval

Five most important relationship in confucianism

Parent/Child, Ruler/Subject, Spouse/Spouse, Older/Younger Sibling, Friend/Friend

Parent/Child

children's duty of respect, obedience, and care for their parents

Ruler/Subject

ruler provide for subjects, and subjects show loyalty and respect

Spouse/Spouse

mutual respect, responsibility, and complementary of roles

Older/Younger Siblings

reciprocal responsibilities and mutual respect, elder sibling acting as a guide

Friend/Friend

mutual respect, trust, and loyalty

Mencius: Confucian concepts of human nature

human nature tends toward goodness

Mencius Human Nature: Example from text

sprouts are planted in good soil, state provides basic social necessities/good soil. Ritual feeds the good nature sprouts

Xunzi: Confucian concepts of human nature

human nature is bad, we know it is bad and we do not delight in it

Mozi's critique of Confucianism

Interior virtue cultivation is inefficient, Confucianism is partiality

Mozi as consequentialist thinker vs Confucius as virtue ethicist

Can only tell if something is good by looking at its effects

Mozi impartial care

Everyone on same social level of parents, treat like your own parents

Mozi Universal Meritocracy

Rewards and promotions should be based solely on one's actions in achieving good social results