Posterity of Confusius\' Thoughts Confucius

¶ … Posterity of Confusius' Thoughts

Confucius is one of the philosophers who played an essential role in shaping the mentality of the Asian world and not only. His perspectives upon the rules of behavior and the principles that should govern all the acts of the human beings have influenced ethics in the Asian world and must therefore be recognized as having a crucial importance. The influence of the Confucian philosophy is still strong today and can be observed in the nowadays social practices all over the world.

The goal that Confucius wished to fulfill through his philosophical perspectives concerns the creation of a world that functions perfectly. A world in which people live in harmony, while their actions are coordinated and supported by strong moral beliefs. The main coordinates of the Confucian philosophy include the following concepts: "Li," the rituals, "Ren," humaneness and "Xiao," filial devotion. These concepts are connected and furthermore, they empower each other.

The ideal world that Confucius wanted to make real is inhabited by people who respect and love each other, who are generous and righteous, not because they are afraid of a punishment, but because the goodness in them renders them like that. People should do the right thing because this is the moral way to go through life.

The essence of the human being is considered by Confucius to be good and kind. In addition, this kind and just human essence is the root of all the human actions. Therefore, all the things should be in the proper manner and at the proper time. Society functions well because it is governed by harmony. And harmony is reached through the respect for the rituals. The Confucian philosophy does not regard rituals as solely grand ceremonies. The concept of ritual is extended to the daily behavior patterns that are to be recognized in the life of every individual. They are used because they have the power to regulate the world and maintain its order. The social conventions are the ones which play a fundamental part into the maintenance of order and harmony in the world.

The concept of "Li," the rituals, refers to all the practices that are used by people in order to create a so called ideal world. The ideal world in one in which all humans are happy. And happiness can be achieved through collaboration, mutual respect and love. However, it is not enough to love and support each other. According to Confucius, a just world is that in which all the individuals play the part they are meant to play. In other words, each citizen must perform his or her task in order for the society they live in to function efficiently. This concept has been translated into the social division of status and role. There is no society nowadays that is not ruled by this division.

This social division represents in fact a form of social organization. And it is only through organization that a society can reach and maintain a harmonious existence. Furthermore, it can be stated that this Confucian concept has influenced the perspective upon the functioning of the world (the society) not only from a spiritual perspective, but also from a more pragmatic point-of-view. Harmony contributes to the achievement of efficacy. At the same time, efficacy supports the occurrence of profit and profit stimulates happiness.

In addition, it can be stated that the Confucian perspective upon rites and rituals is expanded over the entire actions that a person takes in the pursuit for happiness. Just like Confucius believed that one must behave in a moral way because it is the moral thing to do, and that by doing the moral thing one will reach personal happiness, people today still believe that the proper way to act is the "just" one, that is the one according to the written and unwritten laws.

People need laws because they serve as coordinates for every day life behavior. And these laws are translated into patterns of acceptable or desired behavior. The justice system is based on this conception according to which one must always act justly and not harm the other. However, it is very difficult for the Confucian philosophy to find a deep application in the western contemporary world. People have kept this fundamental belief and trust in the righteousness of doing the right thing. This is in fact one of the bases of morality.

Unfortunately, there is a certain distance between one's beliefs and the actions he takes. While knowing that it is right to do the right thing, it is difficult to always to the right thing while in search of one's own happiness. Interests collide and faced with the selfishness and sometimes cruelty of the others, one is compelled to act in a similar manner in order to obtain what he or she wishes. Confucius' ideal world included the rule of reciprocity. And that reciprocity principle functioned and was applied in a natural organic manner because it had the root in the core of the human being. And that human core was believed to be fundamentally good.

This latter conception is still deeply rooted in the contemporary type of thinking. The church and other authorities, such as Justice believe the human essence to be good. This kind of perspective actually allows people to hope and to have faith in a brighter future. At the same time, all human relations, regardless of their degree of formality, are based or at least should be based on mutual respect.

Furthermore, even if one respects the others at the beginning only because he or she knows it is the right thing to do, but does not really and profoundly understand the reasons for this type of behavior, he or she will eventually come to understand it because behavior eventually influences and shapes thinking. The wisdom of Confucius appears obvious even today. Reciprocity regulates the functioning of society since social reports and relations tend to respect this concept. However, this does not imply that only good actions are to be responded in a similar manner.

The ritual patterns of behavior that are at the basis of a good social functioning are believed to have their origin in the dimension of righteousness, according to the Confucian perspective. And the root of the human righteousness is to be found in the people's humaneness. The concept of humaneness refers to the kindness of people, to their will and capacity of acting in empathy with the others.

Humaneness allows people to be open towards each other, to want to understand the other and respect him, regardless of his differences. Not looking for an advantage, but being driven by a moral principle which is in itself rewarding. The so called golden rule of the Confucian philosophy is not to do to others what you would not want others to do to you. This rule can be expanded to the rule of doing to others that which you wish for yourself. Since one can only wish the best for himself, he will do just good things in respect to the others. This belief, according to which it is good (better?) to treat your fellowmen with love can also be found in the Christian philosophy. At the same time, it reinforces the principle of reciprocity.

It has been proven throughout history that strict control measures function only to a certain point. People respecting the laws only because they are afraid of being punished do not have a profound understanding, nor adoption of the basin moral principles. Therefore, they will eventually end up committing an unjust action. This is why the rules of morality must not be external and imposed on the individuals. The proper manner for the education of people is stimulating them in a way that will allow these rules of behavior to be internalized.

And it is here that the connection between the Confucian principles of ren and li (rituals and humaneness) becomes obvious. Humaneness can be stimulated in people through education. And education is based on and supported by various patterns of behavior that can be considered a type of ritual. Confucius believed that everyone must be educated. And this is the belief maintained nowadays.

Discrimination is condemned and disconsidered all over the world, especially when it comes to matters of education. Education is one of the main instruments for the development of people and even more, for the development and prosperity of society, that is, for the happiness of the people and the world. This may sound like an utopia, but everyone wishes for a world where there would be less pain and more happiness.

It is through education that people succeed to learn their roles. Therefore, it is in this way that they acquire the capacity of fulfilling their part in society. Education serves to teach people their roles and this conception is accepted and empowered everywhere in the world nowadays. Confucius believed that if one is educated in a moral spirit and he or she is furthermore, subject to a process of education, then he or she will manage to development himself / herself in harmony. It is universally accepted that each person should follow the direction that suits her best, that is, everyone should try to develop their abilities and talents in order to succeed.

Confucius believed that it is better to concentrate upon the efforts meant to lead to a long and happy life and not upon the immediate satisfaction of short-term pleasures. Even if during history there were philosophers and other various voices praised the immediate pleasures, claiming that it is the best way of going through life, the contemporary philosophical perspectives still include the conception according to which the road to happiness is not the shortest one, nor the one which lacks obstacles and difficulties.

One of the fundamental principles that are to be found in today's society is that of the respect in relation to the others. The respect for the family is an essential principle which can be observed everywhere in the world. This Confucian principle stands even today at the basis of society and its proper functioning. Furthermore, the rites of education that teach one the rites of behavior, support and reinforce an attitude of politeness and propriety.

In addition, the understanding of each person's role in society helps people have a clearer idea about their own status and part in the world. The ritual ceremonies divide people and organize them. This represents in fact a reinforcement of the individual status. The differences between people that are to be observed through the rituals they take part to and use themselves are not only meant to remain external. They also have the capacity of indicating the duties that one has. At the same time, they serve as an indication about what others expect from you and what you should and could expect from them. These expectations include the attitude towards the others, and first and foremost, towards one's own family.