Confucius: Philosophy As A Way To Govern With Virtues

Philosophy, as demonstrated by Confucius, is a way to govern with virtues.  This is shown in the way he specifies the solution to the philosophical problem.  The solution to the problem of social disorder was to go back to the proper way of living, which is done by learning the Tao.  The specified solution is the appointment of the noble man as the ruler of the state. The noble man practices virtues.  His involvement in a society or state leads to a solution to the problem of social disorder.  With the depth of his knowledge, he becomes a moral reference to the people he serves.

In deep reflection, a noble man has a deeper understanding of life and social functions.   He is involved in the community.  He realizes his responsibilities with others.  He sees the bigger picture of things.  He learns values and virtues in his family, community or society and state.  His inner education is founded on the values from his parents, siblings and other people.  From this, he learns social harmony.  Then he extends this to others.   That is why, as a noble man, he is the right ruler of the state.

Common rulers have the mistake of seeing the state as something which they can use for their own private benefit.  They use the state as something which can please their desires for power and wealth.  In this manner, they use harsh laws that devalue people.  This incites disorder, for the people were not treated right by their ruler.  The noble man, however, resolves this mistake by extending the values he learned from his household towards the state.  He sees the state as a family needed to be guided and taken care of.  He fulfills such objective by governing with virtue.  He does not impose harsh laws, but instead manifests virtue in his actions by being a benevolent ruler acting according to circumstances.  By his example, the people are less likely to rebel because they are treated justly.  People feel their worth, thus, inspiring them to do the same to other people around them. This establishes harmony among the people in a state.   Moreover, every citizen lives a happy life, because he is able to fulfill his obligations without any intention for personal gain.   The state progresses and sustains harmony through time.

The noble man, therefore, deeply reflects before engaging into something.  This is his advantage over the common rulers who disregard reflection in their way of ruling and leading.  In deep reflection, the noble man is more guided in his actions and has a clearer direction in his governance. 

Deep reflection also gives the noble man the will to resolve social disorder by the practice of virtue in his government.  He understands his moral obligations and aims to instill to his people the Way or the Tao by his own life and by the way he rules.  Philosophizing makes the noble man be firm in his resolve even if the circumstances stand in the way of his moral obligation.  One of the mistakes of the common rulers is that they resort to improper or wrong things when they compromise just and right rule with personal gains.  Such weak action manifests lack of deep reflection. 

Confucius wishes to teach us the value of extending one’s learning and practice of virtue to others.  This is because it is in our involvement with other people that we get to know the depth of out learning and the worth of our actions.  His specification of the noble man as the solution to the problem of social disorder points out that in undertaking the noble path, one must be prepared at all times.  Confucius points out that taking the responsibility of being the solution to the problem of social disorder in the world is not an easy task.  Moreover, it is not even an assurance of success when one takes the responsibility.  As one of Confucius’ disciples stated, “The reason why the superior man goes into politics, is because he holds this to be right, even though he is well aware that his principles cannot prevail.” ¹

Based on the statement, in one’s attempt to restore the social harmony in the world through governance, many possible and unfavorable situations will happen.  But a noble ruler stays firmer in his resolve.   He takes every situation as a test of righteousness.  Confucius wishes us to understand that when one is virtuous, he cannot be overtaken by whatever circumstances.  He does what is right and sustains righteousness in his life by constant practice of virtue.  His legacies will live through time.

Source:

   1.       Fung Yu-Lan, “Confucius, The First Teacher”, (New York: The Free Press, 1948), In A Short History of Chinese Philosophy, 44.