It’s another “getting a ride into the city and working in a series of coffee shops and libraries” episode.

I got a ride into the city and will be working on things until my dad will pick me up after work. It feels a lot like high school, but with less responsibility and more free time. All I’m waiting on is for companies to do processing on their end for my job applications.

It’s not like there’s anything too important to work on, so I’ve been doing busywork:

• Designed a logo, you’ll probably see it in the upper-left corner
• Got a file repository set up for my friends so they could download files from my library and contribute to it
• Working on other blog posts
• Desperate to understand philosophy, I’m trying to make a dent in Frederick Copleston’s nine volume “History of Philosophy” and Bryan Norden’s “Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy.”

Foxconn

Foxconn is saying that work on the LCD plan will start this summer and plans to begin production in 2020, according to an article by Milwaukee biztimes.

History of Philosophy

Working through the introduction. The author wants to answer the question “why learn the history of philosophy?” His answer is that philosophy is philosophia perennis and that all modern philosophers have their thinking effected from the philosophers of the past. After all, philosophy is an a priori science. He also argues that previous philosophers make mistakes and that learning from them is important to quick improvement, and also that there might be more truth to past philosophies that would otherwise be seen as untenable today.

He goes on more about this: Understanding historical context is important, it should not be viewed as a constant improvement or ascent…

Finally, “How to study the history of philosophy:” See the system in its historical context. Be “sympathetic” and think of the philosopher as human. Understand the meaning of the philosopher’s words and details in relation to the whole and cultural setting.

This is dense enough for today and I learned more latin than I’ve learned in my life. I’ll get to Pre-Socratic Philosophy next time.

Introduction to Chinese Philosophy

Since it’s probably formatted as an undergraduate asian philosophy textbook, each chapter has questions at the end. So I’ll use this space to make notes on it.

Chapter 1: Historical Context

To introduce Chinese philosophy, the author introduces Chinese myth, early history, and the beginning of the “period of philosophers.” This is a description of the 天命, 道, 德, and the first three dynasties and their major characters.

Questions:

According to the traditional Chinese philosophy of history, what cycle does each dynasty go through? Explain the role of Heaven, the mandate, and Virtue in this philosophy.

• The mandate of heaven. Being with Heaven is obedience and favor of nature. Heaven can reject the mandate, which will likely cause a new dynasty to succeed it. It could be considered a way that conquerors can justify conquest and legitimize their rule. Heaven bestows the mandate based on somebody’s Virtue, or 德.

Give some distinguishing features of Yao, Shun, Yu, Jie, Tang, Tyrant Zhou, Wen, Wu, and the Duke of Zhou.

• Yao (唐尧): Legendary moral and wise ruler, discovered astronomy and regularity of the seasons.
• Shun (虞舜): Made prime minster by Yao and ruler after Yao’s death. A simple farmer who was known for his filial piety, caring for his family even though they wanted to kill him and take his stuff.
• Yu (大禹): Legendary ruler, Made a system of canals that helped control the waters and foster agriculture. Posthumous founder of the Xia dynasty.
• Jie (桀): Last ruler of Xia dynasty. Famous for his debauchery.
• Tang (商汤): First ruler of the Shang dynasty.
• Tyrant Zhou (纣王，帝辛): Clever, fearless, physically powerful, yet cruel ruler. Also famous for his debauchery (see 酒池肉林). Last king of Shang dynasty.
• Wen (周文王): Defeated Tyrant Zhou. Captured by Zhou, but gave enough gifts to be released.
• Wu (周武王): Son of Wen, first king of the Zhou dynasty.
• Duke of Zhou (周公): Regent of King Cheng, Wu’s successor. Cheng was a child and the Duke of Zhou could have taken power, but the Duke of Zhou supported Wen’s son which was seen as a very virtuous action.

Give the names of the Three Dynasty in the historical order which they occurred. Name the first ruler of the first, second, and third dynasty and the last ruler of the first two.

• Xia: First was Yu, last was Jie
• Shang: Tang, Tyrant Zhou
• Zhou: Wu

The Zhou Dynasty is divided into two periods. What are these called and what event marks their division?

• Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou. The division is the rule of King You, when he was attacked by his former queen’s family. His son was installed as a king in an eastern city which served as a new capital.

Briefly describe the governmental structure of the Zhou Dynasty, in particular the responsibilities of the dukes and kings.

• Dukes had their own army and were responsible for maintaining order and collecting taxes in their state. Kings would appoint the successor to dukes upon their death.

What are the five senses of 德?

• A path or road, a “way” to do something, a “way” as a linguistic account of a way of doing something, a “way” to live one’s life and organize society, or later the ultimate metaphysical entity responsible for the way the world is. In the Zhou, it was primarily how to organize society and a right way to live.

Chapter 2: Kongzi and Confucianism

This chapter is about the most famous Chinese philosopher. The beginning of the chapter talks about the historical background, such as how rulers of the time found less importance in virtue. For example, Sunzi’s The Art of War was supposedly written at this time and says that war is “the way” instead of virtue.

Questions:

What is the most fundamental difference between the Way of Sunzi and the Way of Kongzi?

• Sunzi says that “war is the way” while Kongzi would say “virtue is the way.”

What was Kongzi’s family situation when he was growing up?

• Poor and destitute, his father died when he was young.

Why did Kongzi leave his home state of Lu and visit other states?

• The rulers were not virtuous, and he wanted to advise other rulers and put his proposals into effect.

Why is it ironic that we use the terms “Confucian” and “Confucianism” in English to describe the movement associated with Confucius?

• They call it 儒家 in Chinese, not having a direct association with Confucius. He said that he does not “lay claim to sageliness or Goodness” and considered himself a product of that before him.

What is the Analects and how was it composed?

• Like the bible and other religious texts, it was composed by his followers and is sayings attributed to Kongzi.

What are Kongzi’s two senses of “gentleman”? What are his two senses of “petty man”?

• “Son of a ruler,” but instead of social class is about being a good person. A “small person” is somebody petty that cannot endure suffering.

Explain the difference for Kongzi between emphasizing the “everyday world” and being “otherworldly.”

• The purpose of human existence is to do good and live well in this world.

Why might it be more accurate to describe Kongzi as “revivalistic” than as “conservative”?

• He wanted people to look to traditional ideals to give them alternative ideals to force, violence, and greed. He wanted social change though revival of old traditions.

What are the two aspects of the Confucian emphasis on the family?

• Family is the first way somebody learns to be a good person and functions as a person’s roots. Family is also what people have a moral obligation towards – Kongzi said that uprightness is found in fathers covering up for their sons and vice versa, even in crime.

According to functionalism, how should we understand ritual?

• Understanding the ritual as what functions it accomplishes – expressing and reinforcing emotions.

What are the two major aspects of Confucian ethical cultivation?

• “Learning” is internalizing the actions, thoughts, and feelings of those who are virtuous. An example is drawn to learning from literature and classic stories and texts, being able to understand why some stories may seem to contradict morals but might be an exception to the rule.
• “Thinking” is how to work with internalized learning. Thinking is framed by language, concepts, values, and paradigms inherited from our culture, so we should know about our culture.

What are the Odes, and what roles did Kongzi think they played in ethical cultivation?

• In a single phrase by Kongzi, “思无邪”, or “No depraved/guilty thoughts” or “will not lead you astray” or “will not lead you from the path.” They are a guide to not straying from the Way.

Explain how each of the following passages from the Analects relates to one of the five themes of Confucianism: 11.12, 7.1, 1.2, 13.18, 3.4, and 25.1. (You will have a solid basic understanding of Confucianism if you can remember these passages.)

• 11.12: Relates to the everyday world and the afterlife. If the goal of Kongzi and later thinkers is to do good in the world, it’s more important to understand life than death.
• 7.1: Kongzi venerates “Peng” since he transmits the ancient wisdom rather than creating. It’s okay to modify or reject elements of a tradition but it must be done by appealing to other beliefs, practices, or values from the same tradition.
• 1.2: This relates to family in that they are the roots of a person. Respecting family and elders is the root of goodness.
• 13.18: A son should cover even if his father steals a sheep. These family bonds go beyond state rules, much like Christianity has the church coming before the state.
• 3.4: Sorrow is more important than the extravagances and details of funerals. This is much in line with 7.1, keeping the functionality of the ritual vs the detailed minutia.
• 25.1: Can’t find this passage…