Confucius - Philosophy and Ethics
Confucius (551-479 BC)
China’s most influential person (pictured right in a statue in Hunan, China) and founder of its major
religion, Confucianism.
He worked as a politician, but this went against his principles.
So he became a teacher and philosopher until he died.
His most famous book
is...
The Analects, a collection of his thoughts and ideas
What did he teach?
1. Human-heartedness (jen)
This means loving with kindness and sincerity without losing your
self-respect.
To do this you must constantly:
- work hard to become a better person.
- learn what is right and wrong.
- develop and use your moral power to reform what is unworthy.
2. Social correctness (li)
To behave well (li), you must:
- adapt to each new situation
- find the “middle way” between extremes (also called the “Doctrine of the
Mean” and similar to Aristotle’s , pictured right
below, Golden Mean).
3. Love learning
Learning from:
- your strengths and weaknesses
- doing and applying knowledge .
“I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand”, he said.
4. Integrity
a) practise your principles (in your life and work)
Principles make you
- better able to cope with problems.
b) don’t pick on other people’s faults
(but examine your own and do something about them).
c) be self-disciplined
Self-discipline is vital to being good and should be learned at home.
5. Change slowly
He believed in an ordered society governed by:
Confucius didn't like violent and revolutionary change.
Important are:
- valuing the good of the past.
But slow change is inevitable and necessary.
Successful change takes a long time, so don’t expect quick results.
6. People make communities and countries
Good people make good families, communities and countries, ensuring peace in the
world.
People must actively help each other in their community.
Respect the old, because they are wise.
7. Leadership and government
The best leaders:
- lead by good moral example
- ensure that people are morally educated in families and schools, so that they have the
self-discipline to govern themselves.
The three essentials of good government are
- good economy.
- military strength.
- the people’s confidence (by far the most important).
8. Use your knowledge wisely
If you have knowledge, apply it.
If you don't:
- strive to fill the gap in your knowledge.
Key quotes on learning and
education
I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I do and I understand.
Key quote on
ethics
To see the right and not do it is cowardice.
Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you
Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
Key quotes on
society
When the heart is right, the personal life is cultivated. When personal lives are cultivated, families become
harmonious. When families are harmonious, government becomes orderly. And when government is orderly, there will be
peace in the world.
The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.
Key quote on business
ethics
The superior man understands righteousness; the inferior man understands profit
Key quote on influencing
people
Respect yourself and others will respect you.
Key quote on
management
Be sincere and men will trust you.
Key quotes on
communication
The superior man acts before he speaks and afterwards speaks according to his action.
The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions.
Key quotes on
leadership
The true leader takes humanity as his burden
The character of the leader is like the wind, and that of the people grass. The grass bends when the wind blows
upon it.
Key quote on leadership and
empowerment
If you lead them with morality and guide them with li [social correctness], they will develop a sense of honour
and shame and will do good of their own accord.
Key quote on
careers
Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.
Key quote on
learning
Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous.
Key quote on knowledge
management
The essence of knowledge is, having it,
to apply it; not having it, confess your ignorance.
Key quote on emotional
intelligence
Grieve not that men do not know you, grieve that you do not know men.
Key quote on the past, present and
future
Study the past, if you would divine the future.
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