a question on confucianism?

Question

Do you agree with Confucius that "The only way such a system would be made to work properly was for each person to act according to prescribed relationships?"
Is it enough to depend on people and the ruler to be virtuos and always act for the common good?

Answer 1

Confucius had a great deal to teach, but like all other teachers he was a part of his time and place, Ideas of Democracy and Freedom were unknown and would have gotten him quickly killed if he had had those ideas.

The challenge of the times is how to apply the ideals he taught, while still keeping the very different ideals about freedom that comes to us from the opposite corner of the world.

Given that he was not the Emperor, and that the Emperor had few ways to be held accountable, it was necessary to give the Emperor moral arguments that would persuade him that moral behavior would benefit all, and that bad ruling would create a society that was bad from top to bottom.

Modern history has taught us that the true Emperor is the people, and nobody rules unless the people allow it, though it may take more effort and sacrifice than they can accomplish if the incentives are not sufficient.

To keep from needing a bloody war every generation, the founding fathers set up a mechanism that they hoped would allow the population to hire such managers as needed and fire them if they act badly.

Confucius' warning about a lazy emperor allowing thieves to ransack the empire, would have been better listened to, as indeed thieves and usurpers have gotten in and we will pay dearly before they are driven out.

Hereditary employment is a bad idea, no matter if the job is king or blacksmith, However making a way that each person can rise based on honor, skill, and talent, is a concept that Confucius did not face, and making that path honorable by holding everyone accountable.

Answer 2

Reciprocal dependence is all there is. The differences we know do not change that fact. The reciprocated wish that all could think independently universally is the perfect expression for the common good.

The Will is positive, the Judgment is negative.