Aristotle versus Confucius

1796 Words4 Pages

Philosophy can best be described as an abstract, scholarly discourse. According to the Greek, philosophia refers to ‘love of knowledge’. This is an aspect that has involved a great number of clever minds in the world’s history. They have sought to deal with issues surrounding the character of veracity and significantly exploring the endeavors to respond to these issues. This paper seeks to compare and contrast the philosophy of Aristotle with that of Confucius. This is with a clear concentration on the absolute functions of these philosophies and how they take care of the particular responsibility of a person and the broader society and the resultant effects on societies (Barnes, 1995).

The teachings according to Confucius refer to Confucianism. Confucianism is the multifarious classification of ethical, collective, political and pious philosophy developed by Confucius and the old Chinese practices (Bertrand, 1999). Confucianism aim is actually making an individual honorable but also making such an individual the character of learning and of proper manners. The ideal and faultless man has to combine the characters of a saint, an intellectual and gentleman. Confucianism is a religious conviction whose adulation is focused on offerings to the dead. The idea of responsibility is extensive beyond the precincts of morals and holds close to the minutiae of daily living.

For those individuals that choose to look into the philosophy of Confucius, Confucianism recognizes that the quest for virtue is ordinary and providential. However, in this quest of moral aptness Confucius tried to offer other people the fervent self love that he had greatly embodied. To actually make oneself as perfect as possible was the central concern of life. Al...

... middle of paper ...

...ferences

Richard, O. (1998) Eastern Philosophy. New York. Random publishing house.

Sergei T. (2004) History of Religion. London. Sages’ printing press.

Britaccanica Online (1989) The Rider Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion. London. Sages.

Oliver L. (1985) Key Concepts in Eastern Philosophy. Cambridge. Cambridge University

Bertrand R. (1999) A History of Western Philosophy. Oxford. Oxford University.

Benjamin S. (1994) Confucianism in Action. New York. McGraw Hill.

Aiken, C (1996). The Catholic Encyclopedia. The Encyclopedia Press, Inc

Heinz, C (1997). Asia, A New Introduction. New York. Waveland Press.

Ackrill, J. (1981). Aristotle the Philosopher. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

Barnes J. (1995). The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle, Cambridge University Press

Ferguson, J. (1972). Aristotle. New York: Twayne Publishers.

Open Document