Kongzi 1

Summary

This video delves into the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing the importance of understanding his core ideas through the 'Analects.' It discusses Confucius's approach to morality, which is fluid and context-dependent, rather than rigid. The concept of 'Tian' or the patterns of Heaven is explored, highlighting its role in shaping societal values and behaviors. The video also touches on the fluidity of Confucian thought, challenging the Western perception of it as conservative, and stresses the philosophy's focus on maintaining social harmony and sustainability.

Takeaways

• 📚 Confucius, also known as Kong Fuzi, was a significant figure in Chinese history, born around 551 BCE in Eastern China.
• 👨‍🏫 Confucius transitioned from a bureaucratic role to a teacher, influencing an estimated 70 direct disciples and thousands of indirect students.
• 📖 The 'Analects' or 'Lunyu' is the main text attributed to Confucius, compiled and edited over 300 years and reflecting his teachings and those of his disciples.
• 🌟 Confucius's teachings are not fixed concepts but rather fluid ideas found in actions, especially in social interactions.
• 🤔 Confucius's responses to questions were tailored to the individual, reflecting their unique life experiences and social contexts.
• 🔄 The concept of 'Tian' in Confucianism refers to the patterns of Heaven, which are the natural order and societal values, not an interventionist deity.
• 👥 Confucius emphasized the importance of social stability, longevity, and continuity, focusing on the collective rather than the individual.
• 🌐 'Tian' encompasses a broad set of patterns including history, culture, institutions, and experiences that shape society.
• 🔄 Confucianism is fluid and adaptive, with room for change, unlike rigid or conservative philosophies that resist modification.
• 🌱 The sustainability of social structures is a core concern in Confucianism, with an emphasis on maintaining the social fabric over specific traditions.

Q & A

Who is Confucius and when was he born?

Confucius, also known as Kong Zi or Master Kong, was a Chinese philosopher and teacher born around 551 BCE in present-day Eastern China.

What was Confucius' profession before he became a teacher?

Before becoming a teacher, Confucius was a bureaucrat, though the exact nature of his role is subject to varying historical accounts.

How many direct disciples did Confucius have, and what was the estimated number of his immediate students?

Confucius had an estimated 70 to 77 direct disciples, and the teachings were passed down to about 3,000 immediate students.

What is the main text attributed to Confucius' teachings known as?

The main text attributed to Confucius' teachings is called the 'Lunyu' or 'Analects' in English, which means 'ordered sayings.'

How long did the compilation and editing of the 'Analects' take?

The 'Analects' was a text that was constructed and edited over a period of about 300 years.

What is the significance of 'Tian' in Confucian philosophy?

In Confucian philosophy, 'Tian' refers to the patterns of Heaven, which represents the natural order of the world and how things are, rather than a deity or transcendental realm.

How does Confucius' approach to teaching differ from Western philosophical concepts?

Confucius' approach is more concrete and situational, focusing on social interaction and context rather than abstract, fixed definitions found in some Western philosophies.

Why does Confucius sometimes give different answers to the same question from his disciples?

Confucius tailors his answers to the individual characteristics, experiences, and life circumstances of his disciples, emphasizing the importance of subjective experiences and social context.

What is the role of 'Heaven' in shaping human behavior according to Confucianism?

In Confucianism, 'Heaven' is a collective set of patterns including history, culture, institutions, and experiences that influence and guide human behavior towards a sustainable social structure.

How does Confucianism view the fluidity and change within society?

Confucianism views society as a fluid and constantly evolving entity, with room for change and adaptation, while still maintaining a discernible unified direction guided by the patterns of Heaven.

What is the core idea that will be discussed in the next video regarding Confucianism?

The core idea to be discussed in the next video is 'Li,' which is a fundamental concept in Confucianism related to propriety, ritual, and the maintenance of social order.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Confucius and His Teachings

The video script begins with an introduction to Confucius, also known as Kong Fuzi or Master Kong, emphasizing the importance of taking notes during the lecture as the presenter will be discussing core ideas not directly stated in the provided texts. Confucius, born around 551 BCE in Eastern China, was initially a bureaucrat but later became a teacher with an estimated 70 direct disciples and over 3000 indirect students. The main source of his teachings is the 'Lunyu' or 'Analects,' a text compiled over 300 years. The script highlights that Confucius's teachings are not fixed concepts but are found in actions and social interactions, often varying in response to different disciples' questions.

05:01

📖 The Variability of Confucian Teachings

This paragraph delves into the variability of Confucius's teachings, illustrating how he provided different answers to the same question based on the individual characteristics of his disciples. The script uses an example from the 'Analects' where Confucius advises one student to wait before acting due to the presence of elders, while encouraging another to act immediately. This approach underscores the importance of individual context and the subjective nature of Confucian ethics. The paragraph also discusses the role of logic and consistency in Confucian philosophy, contrasting it with Western philosophical traditions and highlighting the importance of social harmony and the understanding of one's place within the social structure.

10:01

🌟 The Concept of 'Tian' in Confucianism

The script introduces the concept of 'Tian' (Heaven) in Confucian thought, explaining it as the natural order or patterns of the world, distinct from the Abrahamic concept of a transcendent deity. 'Tian' is seen as the embodiment of societal values and ancestral traditions, with Confucius learning from observing people and society rather than from a single teacher. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of social values and the way they are reflected in individuals' actions and behaviors. It also touches upon the difference between Confucian and Platonic thought, with the former being more concrete and observation-based, and the latter involving abstract concepts.

15:02

🌐 Heaven as a Collective and Fluid Entity

This section elaborates on 'Heaven' as a collective and fluid entity in Confucianism, encompassing historical events, ancestral figures, institutions, and experiences that shape society. It discusses how these elements work together to form a coherent force that guides societal behavior. The script challenges the Western perception of Confucianism as rigid, arguing that it is actually fluid and adaptable, with the primary goal of maintaining the social fabric rather than preserving specific traditions. The paragraph also suggests that the guidance provided by 'Heaven' is not fixed and can change with societal development, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and adaptability in Confucian philosophy.

20:07

🔄 The Dynamic Nature of Confucian Ethics

The final paragraph of the script reinforces the dynamic and fluid nature of Confucian ethics, distinguishing it from a conservative philosophy that seeks to preserve specific values. It highlights that Confucianism is concerned with the sustainability and health of the social structure, not the rigid adherence to certain practices. The script suggests that while there is a discernible direction provided by 'Heaven,' it is not a static set of rules but a guiding principle that allows for change and adaptation. The paragraph ends with a teaser for the next video, which will explore the core Confucian concept of 'Li' (propriety or rites).

Keywords

💡Confucius

Confucius, also known as Kong Fuzi or Master Kong, is a central figure in the video. He is a philosopher and teacher who lived around 551 BCE in Eastern China. The video discusses his role as a bureaucrat, his later life as a teacher with 70-77 direct disciples, and his influence on East Asian thought and culture. Confucius is noted for his teachings compiled in the 'Analects' or 'Lunyu,' which are a collection of sayings and ideas attributed to him and his disciples.

💡Analects

The 'Analects' or 'Lunyu' is a foundational text in Confucian philosophy, mentioned as the main corpus of Confucius's teachings. The video explains that it was constructed and edited over 300 years, and thus, it may not always represent verbatim statements of Confucius but rather his teachings and those of his disciples. It is referred to as 'ordered sayings' in English, highlighting its role as a collection of wisdom.

💡Filial piety

Filial piety is a concept discussed in the video as a part of Confucian ethics. It refers to the respect, obedience, and care that children owe to their parents. The video uses an example where Confucius advises a student not to act upon learning because his father and older brothers are alive, illustrating the importance of hierarchy and respect within the family structure.

💡Ren

Ren, often translated as 'benevolence' or 'goodness,' is a key concept in Confucian philosophy. The video explains that Confucius does not provide a fixed definition for Ren but rather illustrates it through examples and actions. It is found in social interactions and is not a static concept but one that is contextually understood and applied.

💡Tian

Tian, or 'Heaven,' is a complex concept in Confucianism that refers to the natural order or the moral law of the universe. The video describes it as the 'patterns of Heaven,' which includes the forces that shape human behavior and societal values. It is not a deity but a set of principles that guide the right way to act, found within the people and the society.

💡Li

Li, often translated as 'ritual' or 'propriety,' is another important concept in Confucian thought. Although not directly mentioned in the provided script, it is closely related to the themes discussed. Li refers to the proper conduct and etiquette that maintain social harmony and order. It is about the correct way to perform actions in accordance with one's role in society.

💡Disciples

The disciples of Confucius are mentioned as those who learned directly from him and who helped to spread his teachings. The video notes that there were 70-77 direct disciples and an estimated 3,000 immediate students, indicating the broad influence of Confucius's teachings. The disciples are integral to the transmission and interpretation of Confucian ideas.

💡Social structure

The stability, longevity, and continuity of the social structure are emphasized in the video as core concerns for Confucius. The teachings are aimed at maintaining harmony within society, which is seen as a reflection of the patterns of Heaven. The video discusses how Confucian principles are meant to guide social interactions and the organization of society.

💡Patterns of Heaven

The 'patterns of Heaven' is a recurring theme in the video, referring to the underlying principles that govern the world and human behavior. It is described as a set of forces, including history, culture, institutions, and experiences, that shape society. The video explains that these patterns are not static but are dynamic and can evolve, allowing for change and adaptation within society.

💡Fluidity

The video contrasts Confucianism with other philosophical systems by highlighting its fluidity. Unlike more rigid or fixed systems, Confucianism is described as adaptable and responsive to changing circumstances. It is conservative in the sense of preserving social harmony but not necessarily in preserving specific traditions or practices. This fluidity allows for the evolution of societal values and norms.

Highlights

Emphasis on taking notes for understanding core ideas within the analytics of Confucius.

Confucius, born around 551 BCE, was a bureaucrat and later a teacher with 70-77 direct disciples.

The 'Analects' or 'Lunyu' is the main corpus of Confucius's teachings, compiled over 300 years.

Confucius's teachings are not fixed to one definition but are found in action and social interaction.

Confucius's responses to his disciples varied based on their individual characteristics and circumstances.

The concept of 'Tian' in Confucianism refers to the patterns of Heaven, not an Abrahamic God.

Confucius's philosophy is concrete, based on observation of society and its values.

The 'Way of Kings Wen and Wu' represents the social values and mores of the Zhou Dynasty.

Confucius's teachings are not static but are influenced by the collective forces of society, history, and culture.

Heaven in Confucianism is a broad set of patterns that shape humankind's continual emergence.

Examples of 'Heaven' include historical events, ancestral figures, and institutions that influence society.

Confucianism allows for change within the social structure, as guided by the patterns of Heaven.

The sustainability of the social structure is a key concern in Confucian thought.

Confucianism is a fluid philosophy, not rigidly conservative, with a focus on the social fabric's health and sustainability.

The concept of 'Li' will be discussed in more detail in the next video as a core idea of Confucianism.

Transcripts

hello so we're going to be talking about

Confucius now uh Kong Zoo Master Kong

um and before I get started um with

these videos especially

um I want to mention that you should be

jotting things down taking notes in some

form I don't know if you've been doing

that with the other videos but here in

particular I'm going to be saying a lot

of things or many of the things that I'm

going to be saying are not things which

are also stated in the selections of the

analytics that you have so I'm I'm more

giving an overview of some of the core

ideas

um within the analytics and I will quote

from them a few times

bits that you don't have but but this is

a good

um

a good module for you to be taking notes

from these videos so that you can go

back and try and maybe gain a better

understanding of what's being said

directly in the analytics so um first

things first Confucius Kanza born

roughly 551 BCE

in what's present day Eastern China

um

Confucius was a bureaucrat of some sort

um there are varying accounts that say

he did different things

um you can look into that yourself I

think what precisely he did is not so

important what's important to us is that

later in his life he moved on to

teaching

um and it's estimated that he had 70 70

77 direct disciples

and between

his his teaching and the teaching of

these 77 disciples

um there are 3 000 sort of immediate

descendants of Confucius in terms of

students and people who learned

um more or less directly from what

Confucius was saying the main Corpus for

what Confucian Confucius said is called

the lunu it means ordered sayings and

it's um

what what we refer to in English as the

analytics

um I mentioned all of these students

these three thousand sort of immediate

or direct students of Confucius I say

this because the analects

um is a text a work that was constructed

and edited over 300 years

um so we don't necessarily take it as

always being

um sort of uh can you say verbatim What

Confucius said but it's nonetheless

attributed to Confucius and his direct

descendants

[Music]

um

some issues that you should know about

the the structure of the analytics or or

some of the ways in which Confucius goes

about

um responding to problems

um the first one

is that there's not really Concepts here

in the way that we have

um in some of the earlier Western

philosophy right so uh to backtrack

maybe for a second and Confucius is in

some sense comparable to Plato the sort

of East Asian equivalent of Plato and

depending on what you mean by influence

it's it's probably correct to say that

Confucius is the most influential uh

philosopher in the history of humankind

because more people generally speaking

more people live in societies which are

philosophically informed by Confucianism

and Confucianism is still a huge part of

East Asian thought East Asian culture

and so on and so forth so

I'm going to talk about various things

um ideas Notions

and um we shouldn't necessarily think of

these things in like Concepts in the way

that some of the so for example a form

in Plato means a very particular thing

and uh Plato could Define this right he

could say form is such and such and such

this is not the case for example when a

disciple asks Confucius what's good uh

Ren

the answer is not going to be good is

this something that if we were in a

classroom I could just write on the

board for you

um Confucius is going to

point to good in your life

um or in someone else's life by using

using an example good is not fixed to

one definition but is rather something

that can be found

um in action and especially in social

interaction

um so this means that if Confucius

disciples asked him the same question he

didn't always give them the same answer

and I'll read you a quick example of

this

just gotta got a couple different texts

sitting around here apologies for that

uh so this is coming from analect uh is

it 11 23

it is 11 23 and maybe I'll sort of

summarize it so

um or paraphrase so one disciple or

student asks the question

um on learning something

should one act upon it so one learn

something should they then act upon what

they've learned and to this first

student Confucius says uh well well

your father and your older brothers are

alive how could you act upon something

upon learning about learning it and so

in part here we have the idea of filial

piety right the hierarchical structure

within the family

um the father is the one who acts for

the family then the older brothers then

the student however a second student

asks the same question and Confucius

says yeah go ahead

go ahead once you've learned you can go

out and act upon what you've learned

so a third student let's say having

overheard this comes along and says I'm

now I'm going to read sort of directly

here you

you told this one that he he shouldn't

act while his father and Elder brothers

are still alive but this other one asked

the same question and he said yeah go

ahead and act

um and the issue here is that logic as

we generally think about it logic

forbids contradiction demands

consistency

um

and this is an order that it retains

objectivity right logic is objective

because of the lack of contradictory

contradiction in logic and its

consistency

um

the response that Confucius gives is

that the second student the second

Inquirer is diffident so I urge that one

on but the other one has the energy the

first one has the energy of two people

so I wanted to rein him in and I'll read

a little bit more what what Confucius

establishes in his response is not only

an explanation for what seems like a

contradiction

um

while he aims to put a subjective spin

on the life world of his disciples who

experience the same things in their

lives completely differently depending

on what they are bringing to their

experiences he is also informing this

third disciple that while logic has its

place feelings perceptions and

perspectives also play prominent roles

in constituting a self likewise

individual selves need to realize the

Primacy of the other

the other people involved

and moving towards a more harmonious

future with each other

um so the basic idea here is that the

answer his students get depend very much

on what Confucius knows about these

people

um and their

life their experiences but also the ways

in which they are interacting with

society and will interact with Society

this is super important um

and the societal aspect of this

Confucius is very much concerned with

the stability longevity and continuity

of the social structure that's that's

the sort of core tenant so

first idea that I'm going to talk about

here are the first yeah the first thing

sort of here is that

fuchsius was interested in Tien van

um and Tien here means heaven when means

to inscribe to write culture or

something like this you could say it's

the writing of heaven but referred to

here or I'm going to refer to it as the

patterns of Heaven

um in the simplest sense

Tien Heaven here is what and how the

world is or what and how things are so

Tian Wen is the pattern the patterns of

what and how things are Heaven here is

very much not the heaven of an abrahamic

God right it's not a heaven where God

exists in some other dimension or

transcendental realm or something like

this some some separate place

um from the world that we're in

um and it's not something that

intervenes directly we wouldn't say that

we pray to heaven to get a certain

response

um it doesn't give rewards to actions

like it doesn't bestow virtue upon

people and so on and so forth

um so what does it mean to speak of the

patterns of Heaven well

a good way to start with another

anecdote is uh this so

a disciple of Confucius is asked where

did the master get all of this knowledge

from where does this knowledge come from

and uh the anecdote goes like this is a

disciple disciple replies

the way of Kings when and woo has not

completely Fallen to the ground

it is to be found present in living

people

the more worthy know its majors aspects

but even the less worthy know its lesser

aspects hence there are none who do not

have the way of Kings when and Wu in

them

so from whom did our Master not learn

and yet how could he have had any one

constant teacher

so a couple things here first thing is

that what's meant by the in this

anecdote by the way of Kings when and Wu

um are the social

values and mores of the Joe Dynasty

right the the way that people organized

themselves in a particular say ancestral

time and what this disciple is saying is

that everyone has some of this in them

everyone ha everyone is in some sense a

reflection

of the values of society

um those with as you say the the

um the more worthy those who are more

worthy so so that really means those who

are

um

more well-versed

um those who have not only

not only display the values of of the

past and present in their actions and

behavior but understand them understand

why they are such Why certain actions

are the right actions to take and so on

and so forth While others

the less it was referred to as the

Lesser

who have it anyways

um

displaying these mores and values and so

on and so forth

simply

um

unconsciously just in their behavior

right so

um

the way of Kingsman and Wu simply refers

to the mores and values of the Joe

Dynasty what's important here is this

dimension of the ancestral the

traditions and values of a society that

is those things that guide the right way

to act are to be found in the people of

that Society

um so we might stop here or pause for a

second talk about another or another

point to talk about a difference between

Confucianism and platonism as sort of

foundational very influential

philosophies

um less than non-west

in in Plato you have Concepts which are

abstract seen in some sense intangible

and are less immediately concrete

whereas

um

confucius's ideas are extremely concrete

and the reason for that

um we could say that what we what we get

in the passage that I just read this

anecdote is that Confucius learned

through acute observation of people

through acute observation of society

thus confusion Doctrine if we could

speak of a Doctrine I think we could

perhaps is present everywhere in people

it's a matter of seeing it it's a matter

of seeing

the ideas

in society and stringing them together

making sense of them fleshing out the

patterns analyzing discovering the

patterns and elaborating them

so um

in some sense these sort of invisible

forces that cause people to

um act in a certain way and that allow

us to judge actions as good or bad

um

this is the workings the movings the

mechanisms of Heaven these patterns that

we're talking about so I'm going to read

here this is very important Heaven as it

is operative and Confucius is a cohering

of past and present forces that

constitute the path of a society or

culture it consists in dead humans yeah

ancestors and other invisible forces

that cohere into a clearly discernible

Collective entity

put otherwise

Heaven is a broad set of patterns

including history experience culture

institution and other phenomena that

have helped shaped humankind as

continually emerging process

it is a constant force that forms the

backdrop of our Endeavor in the present

always so some examples of this I think

I I always ask my students at this point

so if we were to build a Confucian

cosmology in North America or in the

United States

who might be some of the ancestors that

constitute important forces right and

people always say things like the

founding fathers civil rights leaders

like Martin Luther King Jr

um you know and then I'll ask

um

are these things on the decline are they

stable or are they increasing and I'll

come back to this because this is

important but um

other examples of uh institutions let's

say what did what did I get as

institutions today as examples in class

when we got capitalism as a economic

idea as an institution I think someone

when I asked the

um for an example of something that was

on the increase something which was

um perhaps marginal in the North

American Confucian cosmology and is now

becoming more prominent was lgbtq rights

and so we could say that the lgbtq

community is a historical institution

which is finding a more important and

prominent place

in the movement of uh North American or

American the Society of the United

States so those are hopefully some

examples you could think of historical

events all of these things this is what

heaven is and what you have are all

these forces sort of working together

um historical events

um ancestral figures both mythological

and real in terms of what they did and

how that's represented

um institutions

um

other similar things historical

experiential these things are all

working together like like uh gears I

guess grinding in a machine producing

um something coherent some Vision

um let's say a consistent force that

forms the backdrop of society right

um

and this is a continually moving process

so Heaven is this Heaven is all of these

forces

um

and

because it's a collection of things

which are not the same right sort of

ancestral things

um historical things institutions

experiences Collective experiences

especially these things are all working

together they're multifarious

um

there's always room for change right

that this is not fixed so this is not

like heaven in terms of

um if we can say that there is a sort of

mandate of having a sort of Heaven is

dictating in some sense the behavior of

a society or or is telling Society what

what healthy behavior is this is not

something carved in stone like ten

commandments this is something which is

very much underway

so because heaven is multifarious and

Collective there's room for change thus

the guidance received by Heaven is not

fixed nor does it have a discernible end

like a

an end the only the only real

discernible end

um is the sustainability of the social

structure

so certain influences may increase or

decrease depending on the circumstances

and the development of society

um and then

I think this is the last thing that I'm

going to say um is this the last thing

I'm going to say on heaven

it is indeed

um

to the extent that Confucianism is

predominantly a moral philosophy

and it is or it's at least fair to say

for our purposes that it is

um we can say that it is fluid

it is a particularism bordering on

relativism while remaining anchored in a

discernible unified Direction that's the

direction that heaven is pointing to as

it were that may take the name heaven

but also relies heavily on the notion of

Lee

um so especially these last few things

that I've said are important to think

about because

um I feel like often

um those of us in the west looking on

um

Eastern societies that are heavily

influenced by Confucianism

we have this tendency to jump to the

idea that Confucianism is an extremely

conservative

and rigid philosophy

when in fact it's an extremely fluid

philosophy now the idea that it's

conservative is is

um

slightly different from the way that we

would normally talk about something so

we would talk about something being

conservative in the literal sense that

it wants to conserve it wants to

conserve a particular way of life

particular values right conservatives

and politics are always people who want

things to remain as they were

and for confucianism what needs to be

conserved or preserved is the social

fabric not necessarily the specifics

that hold it together

um so while there is some sense of

preserving something this is what I

refer to in the last thing that I read a

discernible unified Direction

um something which is anchoring for

society something which allows Society

to

um

be healthy be sustainable so

um

this is what Confucius was interested in

or at least one of the main things that

he was interested in the patterns of

Heaven the Tian Mountain

um and so I'll come back in the next

video and talk a little bit about the

core core idea of Lee