Synthesis Paper 2

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.