In this particular day, I dedicated
myself in understanding the first section of the Perception of the Problem of
the Confucian thoughts, which is the absence of social harmony or social
disorder. In this entry I shall venture
to answer three pressing issues: the meaning of disorder in the way Confucius
sees it and why this is the main philosophical problem, the reason why
Confucius identified disorder as the absence of the Way in society, and finally
the conclusion and realizations I have come up to as I synthesized the points
made.
Firstly, I shall discuss as to what
does Confucius means with disorder. Taking into account the different
interpretations of the verses from the Analects, the common notion is this: “disorder”
is depicted as a state in which a function or well-being of a certain person or
thing is in contrast to the Way or the Tao (dao
in Chinese). The “Way” or the “Tao” is described as “the way” of things or the “universal
principle”. This description is used by Confucius in this sense: the Tao is “the
way” on how human beings are ought to act in society. As observed, Confucius is
more focused on man living a moral or ethical life.
Now why does Confucius consider the
absence of the Tao as the main philosophical problem?
This is because for Confucius, the
law of human nature is interconnected with the universe. This is due to
Confucius’ belief concerning the human nature as “heaven given”. This means
that the human nature has a plan that is independent from one’s choice. The
perfection of the human being consists of this plan. The realization of which
is what is called “Morality”. For one to
expect external harmony, one must first cultivate harmony within themselves,
and this can be done by living morally in accordance with the Tao. The absence of the Tao will only impede one in
searching for the truth, and that is realizing purposeful and harmonious
existence with one another and in the world. The absence of the Tao contrasts the nature of
human being, which is according to Confucius, the nature of such is to have a harmonious
co-existence with the universe and with one another by living according to
morals or according to the Tao. Man cannot realize his life fully without the
Tao.
Secondly, Confucius stressed that
the root cause of disorder is the absence of the Way. This is because if men
acted in accordance to the Way, then there is no reason for dysfunction in
society. This is because everyone acted according to their social status,
function, etc. in the State. Bringing it to a micro-scale, if men acted in
accordance to the Way, then there is no reason for hate and loathing because
everyone respects one another as they are. Observing the previous statements,
one can say that disorder happens when one does not live an ethical life, and
this in turn will affect society as a whole. The absence of Tao is the negation
of Tao itself. Once a person negates Tao
in his way of living, then everything that is contradictory to Tao will happen
(e.g. violence, discord between among and one another, hatred, etc.). The absence of the Tao is the result of man’s
choice not to live the Tao. His choice of not living the Tao is an act of
negation of the Tao. It means when a
person negates the Tao or causes the Tao to be absent in his way of life, he willfully
destroys the tie or connection between himself and others, between himself and
nature, and between himself and the world.
Ergo, I realized that the essential
design of the universe, where we live, is the Tao. Such design implies wholeness
or harmony. When a person chooses not to live according with the Tao, that
wholeness or harmony of the universe is destroyed. Because of that destruction,
disorder happens. Tao is the principle of harmony in one’s life, in nature, and
in the world. Once a person lives his life according to the Tao, his life is
whole or complete. But once he shuns away from the Tao, his wholeness or
completeness is destroyed. And because of
that, complication, misery, and imbalances happen in his life.
To put it in an analogy, it is like a
bicycle wheel where all its parts are in their right places and are functioning
well. Once a part is dislodged, say a spoke from the wheel, accidents will
happen. Just like life away from the Tao.
The Tao is the path of good life,
fulfillment, peace, happiness, and sense of being. It is the very element of
world order. All forms of disorder
signify the persons’ disrupting the orderly movement which all things and
beings follow.
Thus, the absence of Tao... is the absence of being.
Sources:
Quito,
E. (n.d.). The Chinese Thinkers. In Chinese Philosophy
Anh, T. (n.d.). What It Means To Be Human. In The
Cult of Harmony.
Taoism and Confucianism. Retrieved Novermber 10, 2014, from http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/251/257967/im_ch06_1.pdf
The blog is very substantial. Some observations I need to make to help you improve. One, you have gone straight into the answers without working out the solution. You were able to do it because you have researched the answers offered by commentators. Try finding the answers by interpreting the assigned text yourself, helped by comentators., of course. Two, study the prepositions, linking verbs, and the S-rule.
ReplyDelete