Analects 2:15

In this particular day, I shall interpret a verse from the Analects, namely 2:15.  In A Source Book In Chinese Philosophy, Wing Tsit Chan presents the verse:

“Confucius said, ‘He who learns but does not think is lost; he who thinks but does not learn is in danger.’ ”  ¹

Firstly, let us discuss about the verse.  It revolves around the theme of “investigation of things”.  This step is essential in the development of a noble man, for it is in the examination of one’s mind that he is able to utilize all that he learned from his life.  It is in this way that he can act accordingly and effectively in the society. 

Let us reflect on this theme as we scrutinize the first sentence in the verse. 

“He who learns but does not think is lost.”

This first sentence means that it is but a fruitless endeavor when one simply gathers all of the information that he possesses, and does not even reflect upon it.   This is because it does not improve his way of life.  It does not expand his way of thinking.  It simply piles up inside one’s mind, until it is forgotten and later on, disposed.  This is the common attitude among students that get a passing grade on a subject, or finish taking a particular subject.  All the information that they have “piled” during the time that they have took the course will stay there for a limited time and be eventually forgotten.  This is because they fail to think about all those information.  They fail to realize their potential if they ever delved deeper into what they have learned.   They fail to incorporate themselves into scrutinizing every piece of knowledge, in such a way that it would help them to live their lives better.  They fail to see their involvement in that knowledge.  They failed to connect what they learned to their actual situations, to their plans, to their achievements, to their failures, to their trials, to their strengths, to their weaknesses, to their relationships, to their families, to their traditions and to their moral principles.

Scrutinizing one’s learning is essential when one wishes to fashion his character.  This is because it is in the mind which one’s action comes from.  The mind is the source of a person’s learning.  It is because of this essential function that the need for organization is the top priority.  This organization can be done by investigation of things.  This is because it makes the mind have that method of keeping what one knows be animated, may it be in a form of teaching or some other alternatives.  It keeps the information from being forgotten, because the individual is actively re-learning it again with all the effort that he has.  It is with this continued process of learning and relearning that one polishes his mind, and becomes more composed and wise as he grows. 

“He who thinks but does not learn is in danger."

In this second phrase in the verse, it tells us that even an intelligible person is not exempted from the discipline of the mind.  “Danger” in this sense is the risk of being misled by one’s thoughts, to the point that it will lead him to a bad lifestyle that can stop him from being a good person.   This phrase emphasizes the primacy of being broad-minded and humble.  Learning is supposed to be the fruit of thinking.  One must constantly be open.  He must constantly welcome new learning and humble himself in the process.  The investigation of things is applied when the individual takes a step back and examines himself.  He “investigates” himself, evaluating whether he is acting accordingly or not.  When one examines himself, both inside and out, he will be able to improve himself.  He will not repeat the same mistakes he committed in the past.   He will realize what he missed or overlooked in the course of his life.   He will not be in “danger” for he carefully thought out his actions, making him do the proper thing and improving his life. 

The Confucian verse teaches one that the investigation of things is essential in learning effectively.  In this way, one actively widens his knowledge, making him grow and innovate each day. This really contributes to the perfection of his character.   One’s learning should be thought about well.  It should be applied to one’s daily living.   Moreover, one’s thinking should facilitate learning. Thinking involves a thinker, an object of thought and a process.   One should learn from what he thinks or else he is empty and is lost in his way.  It is therefore proper that one thinks of worthy things because only with them that there is learning.  Unworthy things are empty and do not bear lessons to learn. 

Source:

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