Summary:
This essay is an analysis and critique of the Analects by Confucius. The Analects' views on government, family, society and personal conduct are reviewed, and the author offers his own opinions and interpretations.
In the Analects, Confucius' teachings basically regard how government and kingship should conduct themselves. Through his descriptive writing, he shows many aspects of the expectations of rulers. Confucius has a strong sense of tradition and moral value is in his writing, and this conservative outlook appears as he sketches out his views for a lawful and successful government, and the qualities for a proficient, successful king. This includes his view that government consists of three major components: filiality, humanity, and ritual decorum. All three practices stress important characteristics such as peaceful interaction, respect for others, and dignity.
Filiality is essentially being devoted to your family and completely obedient to your parents' during their lifetime. This includes caring for them as they grow older and carrying on the family line by having children. This practice also tells you to treat others as though they were part of your own family. Confucius found this practice to be an important part of society and thought that if everyone was "filial and friendly toward one's brother" it would have a positive influence on government. In Confucius' opinion, filiality was a major component to having a well-balanced government, saying "A young man is to be filial within his family and respectful outside it. He is to be earnest and faithful, overflowing in his love for living beings and intimate with those who are humane" While many governments enforced strict teachings to achieve a successful government, Confucius promoted ethics and morality for a harmonious government, reiterating his moral and traditional views.
According to Confucius, in order for society as a whole to benefit, we must act humanely toward others. He explains, "One who is not humane is able neither to abide for long in hardship nor to abide for long in joy. The humane find peace in humaneness; the knowing derive profit from humaneness." He also said to achieve humaneness you must, "want to establish yourself; then help others to establish themselves. You want to develop yourself; then help others to develop themselves. Being able to recognize oneself in others, one is on the way to become humane." Five qualities in becoming humane were described by Confucius; they included respect, liberality, trustworthiness, earnestness and kindness.
Although Confucius speaks of humaneness and filiality, ritual decorum is a very important component of the message he is sending. Although Confucius holds high emphasis on this aspect of achieving a successful government, he remains vague on describing why and how it could benefit. Perhaps he feels this way because repetition will instill a consistency for society, eventually leading to a routine which would not include deconstructive things such as violence, abuse, and other malevolence. Confucius also though that shame needed to be part of society's daily rituals. He thought that people were not born with shame, and without a sense of shame people do not know what is right or wrong. And so the leaders in government are responsible for teaching shame, "If they be led by virtue and uniformity be provided for them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good..." This is the uniting aspect of Confucius' teachings in the Analects; you can achieve balance in a government by having filiality and humanity in your ritual decorum.
In my opinion, one of the main differences between the religion of Confucianism and the many other religions that exist is that Confucius did not preach about a higher being, or god, but rather tried to instill morals and values into his followers. In some irony, Confucius never addressed the subject of religion because it "went beyond the capacity of mortal human intelligence," but his teachings ended up being followed as a religion. I agree with many of Confucius' views and teachings, but I believe that some are intangible.
Confucius' views on government and society are very different from those brought about by the usual politician. The idea to introduce ethics and morals where punishments and rules once stood is a radical, but logical, idea. It is using the method that people have done for ages, setting an example. If you teach society the "right" way of doing things, this will establish a prototype for behavior, which they will hopefully follow. Although this is a good idea in theory, I still do not understand how every person would follow it. As leaders have seen time and time again, there are always some who do not listen to what society considers morally or ethically right. And what might be considered moral to one person could be completely immoral to another.
The idea of ritual decorum is also another topic I both agree and disagree upon. Although having a consistent routine could cut down on corrupt activities, there is also a chance it could create it. If a person was stuck in the same pattern for their entire lives, they would eventually go mad; seeking change from a life that has become boring and repetitive.
Although his views for government are, in my opinion, unreachable, Confucius had many great teachings for life. A moral foundation is essential in becoming a good and successful person, and the key elements of filiality, humaneness, and ritual decorum are how you achieve it.
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