What could be a better time than the present to sit back and reflect on where we are headed to as mankind- a culture that is broken, a society that is breaking down to the smallest fractions, mindset that cannot fathom anything beyond our selfish needs, and a broken thought process. We are scared of being left alone with our own thoughts. Despite of this topic being a separate discussion in academia, this essay shall focus on the need and relevance of philosophy in our lives at present with special focus on Confucianism and Stoicism in the modern times.
Academia is at fault when it comes to discussing philosophy only based on the confirmation of bias, and hence limit themselves to those who are within the expertise of the same. However, for a meaning of philosophy is not limited to university lectures and journals- it is instead a serious reflection of life. Being alone with one’s thought in order to understand the multitude of perspectives that are presented to us in life, and introspecting on the meaning of life is a very significance aspect of philosophy. It is the responsibility of an expert in philosophy to excite the mass regarding the various topics, and in turn encourage them to think, and reflect. It is the only possible form of redemption that humanity can expect in the postmodern era. In order to free ourselves from the tunnel vision, and the largely mechanised ways of life, thinking independently needs to be encouraged and practiced. In the same light, two important philosophies- Stoicism, and Confucianism shall be discussed in order to highlight their relevance in our lives at present.
Stoicism
It is not uncommon for anyone to question that why should we read about a school of philosophy that was established 24 centuries ago help us in the 21st century that is dominated by smart phones, fake news, and social media (Baltzly 2018). To answer this question, we need to turn to the root of philosophy- metaphysics; it tells us how the world is bound together and also ethics; the account of the manner in which individuals should behave in the world. Stoicism, simply put, offers a sense of coherence in terms of the view of life and is very much useful for making it a compass for navigating in life (Baltzly 2018). There are three notions that encompass the life of a stoic- living in terms of nature, the dichotomy of control, and lastly, the four cardinal values.
Human beings, as a species, is considered to be extremely social beings, and are known to possess the capability of reasoning. Hence, leading a good human life consists of serving the community (Baltzly 2018). Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic emperor-philosopher says in Meditations– “Labor not as one who is wretched, nor yet as one who would be pitied or admired; but direct your will to one thing only: to act or not to act as social reason requires.” The above statements are truly significant as the dichotomy of control states that wealth and fame being beyond our power, while the moral stance states that the fact that we have control, is what gives meaning to our existence (Baltzly 2018). In Enchiridion, Epitetus writes- “Some things are within our power while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and in a word, whatever is of our won doing; not within our power are our body, our poverty, reputation, office, and in a word, whatever is not of our own doing.” (Baltzly 2018). Clearly, Epictetus isn’t stating that we don’t impact things like body, property, notoriety, etc. Be that as it may, we don’t, at last, control them. I can unquestionably deal with my body, however mishap or malady can regardless strike at any second.
Conversely, despite the fact that my decisions, suppositions, and qualities can be impacted by others—once in a while in manners, we experience issues perceiving like “counterfeit news”— the buck stops with us. In the event that I take the position, say, that prejudice or lewd behavior is worthy, at that point that is on me and just me, freely of where I may have gotten such thoughts (Baltzly 2018).
The aftereffect of the division of control is that we should move in the direction of disguising our objectives on the grounds that while results are not up to us, choices are. For instance: don’t trust that you will get an advancement at your specific employment; rather, work so as to place yourself in a decent situation to get the advancement (Baltzly 2018). Try not to would like to be adored by your accomplice; ensure you are adorable toward them. The way to tranquility, looks after Epictetus, is to zero in on giving a valiant effort, which is heavily influenced by you, and afterward develop a disposition of serenity toward results, which are not heavily influenced by you (Baltzly 2018). Throughout everyday life, here and there you win and now and then you lose. Be that as it may, you can generally do your part.
The Stoic experiences life by ensuring she is acting highmindedly, acting with motivation to improve the world a spot. This doesn’t mean giving up yourself to the raised area of unadulterated selflessness, notwithstanding (Baltzly 2018). The Stoics comprehended that we live in a world in which everything, and everybody, is interconnected by a thick and complex snare of cause-impact. It could be said, at whatever point I improve as an individual, I improve the world a spot; similarly, at whatever point my activities improve the world a spot, I am in an ideal situation as an individual. Functional insight is the information on what is great or genuinely awful for us. A definitive beneficial thing for a Stoic is to show up at right decisions, while a definitive awful thing is to show up at terrible decisions. Boldness doesn’t have a lot to do with the thought of surging toward threat, but instead with the eagerness to stand up and make the best decision (Baltzly 2018). Equity mentions to us what that correct thing is (to treat others with reasonableness and regard). Moderation comprises in getting things done in the correct measure, neither over-responding nor under-responding to whatever circumstance introduces itself to us.
Confucianism
The Communist Party has regulated an unbelievable flood of riches in China in the previous 35 years through good old free enterprise. Be that as it may, the old Marxist way of talking of the Mao years doesn’t fit any longer. So they went scouring about for another belief system to legitimize their administration (WORRALL 2015). Furthermore, they’ve returned to Confucius, for a considerable lot of similar reasons the old rulers did. Here is a political custom that is exceptionally Chinese and can uphold their kind of tyrant rule. Simultaneously, it tends to be utilized to battle off every one of those dreadful thoughts they don’t need from the West, similar to vote based system and basic liberties (WORRALL 2015).
By resuscitating Confucius, they are presenting the defense that China has its own political culture dependent on its own political and philosophical history. China, thusly, doesn’t need to make a beeline for majority rule government in the manner that Western supporters might want to witness (WORRALL 2015). It can have a political future dependent on what it sees as its philosophical past.
They like utilizing “amicability” and agreeable society a great deal, ideas the Confucians likewise prefer to utilize. However, what the Communists mean by amicability is a general public where there’s no contradiction of gathering rule. In Confucian reasoning, it implies something altogether different (WORRALL 2015). It’s about a general public where everybody satisfies their obligations and makes an agreeable circumstance where the entire nation thrives.
What the Chinese Communist Party is doing is taking a barely characterized, painstakingly chose form of Confucianism to push thoughts they think can help persuade the open that the framework they’re running is an augmentation of a political framework that China has consistently had (WORRALL 2015).
Simultaneously, normal individuals are getting back to Confucian thoughts looking for the otherworldly sustenance they feel is absent in their lives. One Confucian researcher said to me that China is having an ethical emergency, and it’s the most noticeably awful emergency China has ever had (WORRALL 2015). There are unfathomably elevated levels of defilement, inescapable misrepresentation, and duplicating. There are mind boggling issues with contamination and natural corruption.
The Confucius Institutes have been a massively effective program for China. What makes them questionable is that, when a Confucius Institute appears at a college, the college is successfully re-appropriating its Chinese investigations to the Chinese government (WORRALL 2015). Confucius Institutes are supported by and partially directed by an organization of the Chinese state. As it were, Confucius’ name is utilized as a brand.
In the scholarly community, this is at times observed as an endeavor by the Chinese government to control the talk about China. The Chinese demand all they are doing is advancing Chinese language and Chinese culture (WORRALL 2015). But since of the contentions these establishments have incited, you need to ponder whether this is really strengthening the doubt between the West and China? Some extremely noticeable colleges in the United States, similar to the University of Chicago and Pennsylvania State University, have dropped their relationship with Confucius Institutes (WORRALL 2015).
The result and the reason for the ecological emergency Environmental contamination made China endure 511.8 billion yuan (around 64 billion U.S. dollars) in financial misfortunes in 2004, which added up to 3.05 percent of GDP that year, as indicated by a report, named China Green National Accounting Study Report 2004 (WORRALL 2015). The natural expenses of water contamination, air contamination, and strong squanders and contamination mishaps represented 55.9 percent, 42.9 percent, and 1.2 percent of the absolute expenses, individually (WORRALL 2015). These figures show that the quick financial development that the Chinese government has been so glad for has been accomplished to a limited extent to the detriment of the earth and normal assets. What’s more, it cautioned individuals of understanding the earnestness of the contamination in China. We should change the current creating example of the economy (WORRALL 2015). As Karyn Lai, a well-known teacher at the University of New South Wales, reports that a significant topic that cuts across numerous discussions in natural way of thinking is that of anthropocentrism (WORRALL 2015). He likewise asserted that anthropocentrism, understood as the powerlessness or reluctance of people to accord moral standing or good thought to different species, has been considered answerable for the corrupted condition of the indigenous habitat and for species annihilation. Since the hypothesis of the anthropocentrism is the reason for the present natural issues, the major circumstance can’t be changed except if we change the perspective on the anthropocentrism (WORRALL 2015). Luckily, Confucian’s vision has offered a sort of astuteness with extraordinary motivation for us, that is, the rule of the solidarity of nature and man that can be utilized as right perspectives for the arrangement of these issues.
The hypothesis of ‘the solidarity of nature and man’ weights on amicable improvement of man and nature. Despite the fact that Confucianism deciphered the hypothesis of ‘the solidarity of nature and man’ from numerous points of view including supernatural quality; its focus esteem is undoubtedly to elucidate a cosmology of solidarity of nature and man (WORRALL 2015). Old Chinese logicians had just perceived that if the periods of farming be not meddled with, the grain will be more than can be eaten. On the off chance that nearby nets are not permitted to enter the pools and lakes, the fishes and turtles will be more than can be expended. On the off chance that the tomahawks and bills enter the slopes and woodlands just at the correct time, the wood will be more than can be utilized (WORRALL 2015). There are a large number of the comparative contentions in antiquated Chinese way of thinking books. To be sure, in old China, ‘the solidarity of nature and man’ isn’t only a humanist reasoning rule yet in addition the completion of such standard in the exercises of treating nature benevolent and saving the common habitat that showed in setting the authorities to protect indigenous habitat, for example, ‘yuren’ (Note 2) in classical China and declaring a few declarations of safeguarding normal assets, for example, ‘tianlu’ (Note 3)and ‘Liji-Yueling’ (Note 4)in the Warring States time frame (WORRALL 2015). Old biological insight gives off an impression of being significant and illuminating, particularly in such occasions that the human existential condition is progressively decelerated. Normally, these significant hypothetical assets worried about human predetermination and patterns of development in Chinese way of thinking are the very focuses for the researchers to focus on today (WORRALL 2015).
Since 1978 China completed the approach of the change and opening, the improvement of the economy makes individuals all over of the world astounded. Simultaneously, notwithstanding, numerous social issues never observed rose persistently. For example, profound quality ignored, cash love, crime percentage increment and so forth what caused these issues is that the previous estimation of ethical quality is relinquished by Chinese continuously (WORRALL 2015). Today, we should reconsider the estimation of the Confucianism to address the current social issues.
Confucians see virtues as the premise of social and political request. The onus lies on every person to expect the ethical commitments natural in his position; the cardinal temperance of kind-heartedness or mankind grasp the ethical characteristics of the genuine man: steadfastness, correspondence, loyalty, dutiful and congenial fondness, civility, great confidence and fellowship (WORRALL 2015).
The Confucian custom is especially known for its accentuation on human relatedness, especially family relations. These relations are normally called Five Cardinal Virtues including guardian and kid; senior and more youthful kin; a couple; individual in-control and subordinates and companion to companion (WORRALL 2015). In current occasions, society acknowledges the independence and underscores the estimation of the individual, so the estimation of the family is disregarded bit by bit. Along these lines an ever increasing number of individuals around us are experiencing uneasiness, misery, separation, and vulnerability throughout everyday life. It is said that in built up world economies and nations, we are presently going up against the way that in any event one out of five individuals experiences emotional wellness issues.
The most important difference that lies between Confucianism and Stoicism are the values propagated by each of these schools of philosophy. In the base of Stoicism lies the four cardinal values namely practical wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance- all of these are highly interdependent and can come under the overarching umbrella of wisdom (Baltzly 2018). Confucianism on the other hand is known for ranking their virtues on the basis of scope as well as their importance- benevolence and righteousness for them are the two most important virtues (WORRALL 2015). Stoicism in the present times, is the answer for the world being ravaged by COVID-19 since at the core of stoicism lies the development of understanding that those things lying beyond the power of human beings should not worry us (CreightonUniversity 2020). We should only be concentrating on things that are within our control. Confucianism has also been helping Asia to cope with the pandemic. It is very evident from the serene resilience that is present among the citizens of the Asian states like Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and Singapore (ESCOBAR 2020). In a nutshell, there is a sense of civic mindedness in the majority of the population and they have been willingly following protocols, and competent policies formulated by the government. Xunzi was known as a devotee of Confucius by later he departed from the formative doctrine of Confucianism. While Mencius is known to be the one who amplified the teachings of Confucius as he propagated the concept of original goodness of human nature of xing as the most important part of his system.
Bibliography
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WORRALL, SIMON. 2015. “Why Is Confucius Still Relevant Today? His Sound Bites Hold Up”. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150325-confucius-china-asia-philosophy-communist-party-ngbooktalk/.
ESCOBAR, PEPE. 2020. “Confucius Is Winning The Covid-19 War”. Asia Times. https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/confucius-is-winning-the-covid-19-war/.
CreightonUniversity. 2020. “How Stoicism Can Offer Peace Of Mind During Pandemic And Beyond”. Newswise.Com. https://www.newswise.com/coronavirus/how-stoicism-can-offer-peace-of-mind-during-pandemic-and-beyond/?article_id=729353.
