Analects 4:4

In this particular day I shall interpret a verse from the Analects, namely 4:4. In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, Wing Tsit Chan presents the verse:

“ Confucius said, ‘If you set your mind on humanity, you will be free from evil.’ “ ¹

Firstly, let us discuss the theme of the verse.  The theme revolves around “jen” (goodness) being a cardinal virtue.   “Jen” is deemed to be the summation of all the values in Confucian philosophy, for it serves as the main objective for all of the actions and changes that one does when one decides to follow the Way or the Tao.

In this second point, the theme of “jen” will be applied to the verse as the details of its meaning will be discussed.

Let us first scrutinize the first part of the sentence, which is:

‘If you set your mind on humanity…’

The term which holds an essential effect in the message is “humanity”.   Seeing this in its original context, “humanity” has always been used as a representation of the values of compassion, sympathy, vulnerability, conscientiousness, remorse, and mortality.   Putting this concept into the Confucian sense, one can observe that the usage of “humanity” focuses on the concept of “goodness” or “jen”. 

Now let us analyze the whole verse, taking into consideration the concept of “humanity” as previously clarified above.  Let us do this by replacing “humanity” with the word “goodness”.

‘If you set your mind on goodness, you will be free from evil.’

Observing this modification, the message of the verse is clear. Relating this verse in the religious sense, this verse actually applies.   An example would be praying for one’s enemies.   Praying itself rids one of the malicious things in their minds.  The act of praying is an act of “setting one’s mind to goodness”.   This is goodness in a sense that one decides to resort to non-violence instead of attempting any form of retaliation to his enemies.    It frees one from evil because it prevents him from doing any harm.   It prevents him from disrupting the harmony in the world, in others, and in his self.   Evil holds the consequences of making one be in discord if it is ever to be thought or done, but if one sets their minds on benevolence, they are liberated from this consequence.   This is because doing good things bear no consequence, for it is not against the Tao.  Not going against the Tao is the manifestation of harmony.

Another way of looking at the verse is by the representation of humanity as a term of a large group of people in the society or in the world.   Let us apply this in terms of warfare.   Say, there is a brewing conflict between two countries.   The presidents or prime ministers of the countries must first think about what would be the consequences if the war happens.   They must think about what will happen if their nation gets invaded by another foreign power, or in the worst case, be nuked.  The awful possibilities are endless.  If they are able to exhaust these possibilities and say, ‘There is no point starting this war.  It will only do harm to my country and to my people.  Better to settle this matter in a diplomatic way instead.’ , then one can surely say that they had set their minds on “humanity”.  Due to the fact that they prioritized the good of the people other than political or authoritative pride, they have been liberated from the “evil” that may happen if ever they have done otherwise (e.g. dismissal of international relations, threatening of national security, moral panic).

This last point will discuss about the concept of “jen” as cardinal virtue.  “Jen” or “goodness” is an essential characteristic needed by an individual who pursues to be a superior man.  This is because it is from goodness that one balances his raw nature.  It is from goodness that one becomes tamed and level-headed.  Goodness is a cardinal virtue for it is where the objectives of harmony are inclined to. It is in this sense that this virtue is essential for the development of the noble man.

“Jen” or “goodness” is essential in one’s self cultivation.  Confucius emphasizes in the verse that setting one’s disposition for the greater good can rid one of the consequences that may hamper his growth as a superior man.  By setting one’s objective to benevolence, he wins over the weaknesses of his human nature. 

Source:

1.  Wing Tsit Chan, “The Humanism of Confucius”, (United States: Princeton University Press, 1963), In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, 26.