Topic > Confucius' Teachings on Human Nature and the Concept of the Gentleman

Confucius was a famous Chinese philosopher who lived during the Tang Dynasty. He was born around 551 BC and died in 479 BC at the age of 72. He dedicated his life to education and took pride in promoting loyalty and respect to others. Although not much is known about the details of Confucius' life, we can confidently say that his teachings, as a result of his unwavering determination, became the foundation for much of the foundational ideologies of China and other future nations. Today his teachings are popular throughout the world, but especially in other Asian nations such as Japan, Korea and Vietnam. These nations annually hold traditional ceremonies that encapsulate the works of Confucius. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Confucius observed and understood that human beings are naturally full of goodness. Evil and difficulties are an inevitable consequence that also occurs in life. A basic example that fits Confucianism would be charity. People generally choose to donate time, money, and other resources to help others who are not themselves or who are not directly affiliated with themselves. Confucius, just like Socrates, also believed that education is the foundation for all young people who are shaping who they are as they head into the future. This article will highlight Confucian thinking on these concepts. Confucius addressed human nature directly only once during his lifetime. This was as quoted; “The master said, by nature, close together; for distant practice”. It must be said that Confucius meant that goodness must be taught through application and not through nourishment. It is not an intrinsic quality that a single individual is born with. Human beings almost always naturally have the same desires and needs, however there are exceptions depending on the conditions in which we are born. The most common is the place of birth. As we grow, our surroundings begin to shape us and that is where we as humans begin to divide ourselves from each other. Our different experiences and the identities we take on throughout life shape who we are as we age. Confucius believed that our commonalities also help us live and grow. The different stages of growth that we all experience are what make us different. This is the essence of human nature. Because of the very few direct mentions of human nature, we need to examine other dialogues to better understand Confucian thinking on goodness and human nature. “The Master said, (the good man) does not grieve that others do not recognize his merits. His only anxiety is that he won't be able to recognize them." This means that integrity is the key to goodness and humility. People who are satisfied with their actions are much better off than those who act simply to receive praise from others. People who recognize positive qualities can help promote further use of good deeds towards others. Learning and deepening our knowledge gives us the tools to take the correct paths in life. If you fall into ignorance, the path you take can be dark and useless. The consequences are not only to the detriment of oneself, but also of others. “The master said: kind and never compete. You will say that in archery they do this. But even then they greet each other when they go up to the archery range, when they come down and during the next drinking session. So, even when they compete, they remain gentlemen." This section gives importance to the idea of ​​ritual and.