\documentstyle[11pt,doublespace]{article}
\author{David Golombek}
\title{Tenets of Confucianism}
\date{\today}
\begin{document}
\maketitle

While by no means the first to praise wisdom, social responsibility,
and constructive action, Confucius and his later followers managed to
ingrain the respect of these qualities into so widespread a group, that
people still strive to attain them two thousand years later.  Much as
the mass media has made sports stars the heroes in modern America,
Confucius made intellectuals the most hailed people of his age.
Warring states seeking to gain an edge on their enemies had already
brought intellectuals to high posts, and the philosophies of
Confucius helped stabilize this strong position long after the wars were over.
Although few of Confucius' original works remain, his students collected
many of his thoughts in \underline{The Analects}, and thus we are able
to study many of his ideas, including his requirements for a man to be
called a gentleman, the relationships of family members, and the
proper method of governing a country. 


Perhaps Confucius' greatest contribution to Chinese society was his
work with education.  The set of texts he wrote during his life and
the books written by his disciples,
served as the base for many generations of scholars.  His works were
flexible enough to prepare men for whatever challenges they might
encounter, despite the changes of time.  With an emphasis
on applied philosophy and ethics, this education created a man with
an open, ever learning mind, able to adapt to new ideas and thoughts.
The virtues expounded by Confucius  revolved around the concepts of {\it jen},
roughly benevolence towards other men, and {\it chih}, approximately
intelligence.  A man who successfully followed the moral codes of
Confucius was dubbed a {\it superior man}, (the equivalent of the
Euoropean gentleman or knight) regardless of his actual
family background.  Thus, Confucius' requirements to join this class
of gentleman, were for a man to demonstrate a strong ethical sense, as
well as the intellectual powers to defend and extend these views.


Despite all this attention to improving oneself, Confucius did not
advocate placing personal good over that of others.  Instead, it was
the family that demanded the highest degree of loyalty.  This filial
submission was merely an extension of traditional Chinese culture,
which also placed utmost import on family ties.  Only after duties to
the family have been satisfied must a man begin to consider larger
groups, such as his village, nation, and beyond.  {\it Jen}, the
goodness proscribed of all {\it superior men} meant that such goodwill
towards others was natural, a basic instinct before all others.  Self
interest had a lower priority, because it was assumed that by helping
one's family, one was helping oneself.  By placing the family as the
basic block of society, Confucius helped bind people together in small
groups, and weakened feelings of individualism.


Confucius prepared a government on the theory that all subjects of it
would be {\it superior man}, or at least very ethical individuals.
Thus, he was able to make many assumptions about the behavior of the
subjects under his government.  His government was a minimalist one,
with no (or possibly a very few) laws, leading instead by
demonstrating the correct way to live and act.  Laws were not to be
trusted, because they were concrete, inflexible things.  Rather, the
rulers were to persuade the people to act correctly by showing them
the correct way to live.  One of the most important functions of
government was to teach it's subjects, helping them to become superior
men, thus better able to comprehend the goals of society, and further
them on their own.  Aside from this teaching function, the government
provided the traditional services associated with governments, but to
the smallest degree possible, remaining as little in the way of the
people as possible.


These qualities that Confucius praised and taught became an
institution in China for over 2000 years, with successive generations
of scholars striving to first meet the criteria to become superior men
by reading Confucius' text's, then attempting to extend and apply the
thoughts contained therein.  Although many of Confucius' ideas were
only mildly practical in the real world, most were implemented, for
better or worse.  Some, such as his educational policies, were
fabulously successful, while others, such as his government, were not,
and only made workable through many compromises.  No matter the
success of the individual points of Confucianism though, one must
admit that it's lasting power is extrordinary.


\end{document}


