Intro to Chinese Philosophy

1
Intro to Chinese Philosophy

• Views on Man, Government, and Nature

2
The Climate

• End of the Zhou dynasty
• Disjointed kingdom that existed in chaos
• Questions of what a good leader should be and
  what a good subject should be
• All of this lead to what we now know as the 100
  schools period- a golden age of Chinese
  philosophy.

3
The Men

• Confucius- orphaned, impoverished scholar of the
  noble class. Was denied a government post and
  opened a school instead. The failed family
  man.
• Mozi- artisan who worked his way up and, like
  Confucius, is believed to have opened a school.
  The hippie intellectual.
• Laozi- semi-mythical, maybe a composite of
  several actual historical figures. Anti-
  authoritarian. The anarchist.

4
The Philosophies

• Confucianism (named for Confucius)
• Daoism (led by Laozi)
• Moism (named for Mozi)
• Legalism

5
Legalism

• People are bad by nature (simple, right!)
• THEREFORE, we need a strong government with
  strict laws and harsh punishments to keep evil
  under control.

6
Moism

• In a nutshell Love, and love alone can solve all
  problems
• Believed in universal love equal love for all,
  whether ruler, subject, family, strangers.

7
Daoism

• Goal to find Dao, or the way of the universe
• How by being in harmony with nature and with
  ones feelings
• Wanted a small, simple society, not too much
  government
• Had a few leaders before Laozi
• Holy Book the Dao De Ching

8
Confucianism

• Looked for Dao in the smooth, harmonious
  relationships between families, people, and
  governments
• Stressed the importance of five basic
  relationships husband and wife, father and son,
  older and younger brother, friend and friend,
  ruler and subject.
• Believed government should be based on the
  example of virtue, not on laws and punishment.

9
Breakdown of Philosophical Positions
Confucianism Moism Legalism Daoism
Human Nature Good within boundaries Good, can be short sighted bad Neither good nor bad
Govt Rule by example, like a good father Rule by men of learning Rule by strict law. Any govt is pointless.
Right Conduct Sincerity, loyalty, kindness, respect Universal love Obedience to strict laws Simple, thoughtful lifestyle
10
Writing Prompt for Homework

• Which of the four philosophies we learned about
  do YOU like the most? Why?
• Answer in a paragraph.