传统中国思想中的生死观 (讲座四)

Individual Assignment (Part 1)

• Submission deadline: October 11, 2024 (Friday, week 6) 5:00 PM
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Exploring Life, Death and Human Relations in Traditional Chinese Thoughts - Lecture Four

• Topic： Confucianism's Perspective on Life and Death
• Purpose: To understand Confucian thought on existential issues.

How to Approach Complex Philosophical Theories?

• Analyze the thinker's perspective on societal issues.
• Understand how the thinker interprets and addresses these issues.
• Examine the identified causes of the problems.
• Analyze the solutions proposed by the thinker.
• Evaluate the efficacy of their proposed solutions.
• Consider alternative perspectives on the problems and solutions from other contemporary thinkers.
• Formulate a critical assessment of the thinker's contributions.

The Rise of Pre-Qin Philosophy: The Exhaustion of Zhou's Culture

• Topic: The era of Zhou dynasty and the development of different philosophical ideas.
• Key figure: Mou Zongsan
• Mou Zongsan's assertion: The rise of different philosophical schools was a response to the deteriorating situation of the Zhou Dynasty.
• Questions: What is the Zhou Dynasty? What are the characteristics of Zhou's decline? How did different schools of thought address the problems of the time?
• Thinkers and their approaches:
  • Confucianism: focus on moral governance
  • Mohism: emphasis on universal love
  • Daoism: advocating for harmony with nature
  • Legalism: emphasizing strict laws.

Introduction: General Overview

• Two main perspectives on life and death are presented based on different schools of Confucian thought.
• One perspective examines the significance of life through the concept of sheng,, or 'birth', and the other, via the concept of si, or 'death'.

Various Schools of Thought and their Perspectives on Life and Death

• Confucianism focuses on morality and social harmony, believing that the meaning of life and death is primarily determined by maintaining ethical standards.
• Daoism emphasizes living according to nature and the rhythm of the cosmos, implying that life and death are intertwined.
• Mohism emphasizes social ethics based on universal love.
• Legalism views life through laws and strict order.
• Buddhism emphasizes enlightenment and nirvana.
• Christianity and Islam have distinct perspectives on life, death and the soul.

Confucian Characteristics

• Importance of the present world: Confucianism prioritizes the present world and does not emphasize supernatural powers.
• Characteristics identified by Confucius: avoiding strange, violent or chaotic behavior, and dismissing religious beliefs about ghosts or gods.

Confucian Characteristics II

• Emphasis on morality and ethics: Confucianism strongly emphasizes moral values and ethical principles.

Confucian Characteristics III

• Emphasis on personal cultivation: Confucianism emphasizes that people should cultivate their moral character.
• The Da Xue ("Great Learning") highlights the importance of personal cultivation in order to achieve harmony within the family, governance of the state, and ultimately, peace throughout the world.

Confucian Life Philosophy

• Emphasis on the continuous cycle of life and reproduction as the highest virtue of nature.
• The idea of continuous creation and rebirth, inherent in nature, is considered a central concept in the Confucian worldview.
• The concept of Tiande (天德), or the virtue of Heaven, emphasizes the natural order in life and reproduction.

Confucianism's view of Life and Personhood

• Humans are considered central to the cosmos: Confucianism views humans as the most important element of the universe, not merely subjects to natural laws or deities.
• The nature of heaven is described to be benevolent rather than arbitrary: the concept of Heaven in Confucianism is presented as a force of order and balance, in contrast to an arbitrary or capricious being.

Confucian Life Philosophy II

• Importance of social harmony: Confucianism emphasizes the necessity of social harmony and the importance of relationships between people.
• Respect for elders, and the need for order in family relationships are essential concepts to maintain social harmony.

Confucian Life Philosophy III

• Emphasis on the role of education and moral cultivation: moral uprightness is achieved through education and personal cultivation.
• The importance of filial piety and social harmony emphasize the need for moral uprightness.

Confucian View on Death

• Importance of rituals in mourning and remembrance: Confucius believed that proper rituals in mourning were crucial to honor the deceased and show respect for the family.

Confucius's Feelings About Death

• Confucius expressed profound sorrow upon the death of his student Yan Hui and emphasized the importance of rituals for honoring the deceased.
• His reactions show the deep respect and personal connection he had for his students and the importance of proper practices in mourning.

Confucius: Transcending Death

• Confucius's philosophy is focused on the pursuit of virtues and meaning in life, not on avoiding death or gaining immortality.
• His emphasis on pursuing ethical values, cultivating relationships and maintaining high standards in life surpasses the concept of death.

Confucian View on Death II

• Significance of observing appropriate rituals and mourning periods: these acts are considered crucial for honoring the deceased, particularly within families.

Confucian View on Death III

• Importance of moral character in one's life: upholding strong moral character is crucial and is contrasted with avoiding death.
• Confucius maintained that morality is of paramount importance and far surpasses the concept of individual existence or death.

Confucius's Moral Framework

• Emphasizing the principles of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness.
• Actions must always adhere to the five cardinal virtues for ethical behavior and conduct.

The Confucian Perspective on Life and Death (Conclusion)

• The significance of life for the Confucian thinker is not the avoidance of death but the pursuit of virtue; the proper moral standards should be maintained during life and death.
• Rituals related to death are not acts to avoid death but are to honor those who have passed on.

Questions for Discussion

• Can we transcend death?
• How did historical figures/philosophers overcome their concerns about death?
• What can we learn from these historical figures and philosophers?