What is philosophy as
demonstrated in Ancient Chinese Philosophy by Confucius in the way he lays down
the assumption of the solution to the Philosophical problem?
The philosophy
of Confucius in the way he lays down the assumption of the solution to the Philosophical
problem is Moral Philosophy. We can see Moral philosophy in each of the
solutions he lays down. To strengthen my idea about the philosophy in the way
he lays down the solution to the philosophical problem, we must first,
one-by-one discuss each solution. We will discuss first, The Tao as a
Social-Moral Way. In Tao, there are loyalty, mercy and humaneness. A superior
man is devoted to the fundamentals or the root and when the root is firmly
established, the moral law will grow. In analects 1:11 Confucius said, “When a
man’s father is alive, look at the bent of his will. When his father is dead,
look at his conduct. If for three years [of mourning] he does change from the
way of his father, he may be called filial.” It is just mean that when a child
is practiced by his father and still continues the practiced that is taught to
him/her even his father is dead, he is loyal to what his father taught his and
everyone can said that he/she love and respects his parents. And loving and
respecting your parents is just the right thing to do.
Second is the
Importance of Tradition. In the Importance of Tradition, one must follow what
the rightful tradition is before and must not change it when he/she thinks that
it will be bad when he/she changes it. If one follows what is morally good
tradition. He/she will learn something from it. And when one is following the
tradition, his/her ancestors will be delightful of him/her. And following the
tradition is just the right thing to do.
Third is the Basic Goodness and Intelligence.
It is said that man is good in nature and only becomes bad when presented with
many bad things but he/she will find the light and return to goodness. Confucius said that “In education, there
should be no class distinction.” For me, it just means that everyone must have
the chance to learn because everyone has the capability to learn and develop
it. One must not be deprived from education because he just can’t afford it but
he/she must be educated because you don’t know what he/she has to offer or
he/she might be really intelligent. If one is eager to learn, one must be educate
with many good things around him/her.
The fourth one
is the Development of Chun Tzu. Confucius said, “The superior man understands
righteousness; the inferior man understands profit. It means that a superior
man is always fro what is right while the inferior man always do what will
benefit him/her even he steps down to someone. Confucius said, “The superior
man understands the higher things [moral principle]; the inferior man
understands the lower principle [profit]. It just still means that a superior
man is always want what is good and always do what is good while the superior
man always thinks what is the good only for himself even it hurts someone. When
one is educated with what is morally good or do things with conscience he/she
will just to what is good. The Tao as Social-Moral Way, the Importance of
Tradition, Basic Goodness and Intelligence and the Development of the Chun Tzu
runs down to that one philosophy, and that philosophy is Moral Philosophy.
Therefore, the philosophy as demonstrated in Ancient Chine philosophy by
Confucius in the way he lays down the solution to the philosophical problem is
Moral philosophy.
