Oriental Philosophy

I.

Confucianism

Confucianism is an ethical and philosophical system based upon the teachings of the Chinese
sage, Confucius.
Facts about confucianism

Was founded in the 6th or 5th century B.C. by Confucius.

Originally started in China.
Eventually spread to Korea and Japan where its still studied in universities to teach
moral values.
Has been followed for 5-6 million years.

Confucius
Born 28 September 551 BC
Died 479 BC (aged 72)

-was a famous thinker and social philosopher of China, whose teachings have deeply influenced
East Asia for centuries. After much travelling around China to promote his ideas among rulers,
he eventually became involved in teaching
disciples.
His philosophy emphasized:
Personal morality
Governmental morality
(Government is good if it can maintain (1) economic sufficiency, (2) military
sufficiency, and (3) confidence of the people.)

Correctness of social relationships

Justice and
Sincerity

Confucianism was used since then as the imperial orthodoxy, Confucius' thoughts have been
developed into a vast and complete philosophical system known in the west as Confucianism.

After Confucius died in 479 BC, his followers/disciples compiled his teachings in the form of
dialogues between him and his students. The resulting collection highly influenced educational,
social, and cultural thought in China and elsewhere.

The Analects is a collection of moral and ethical principles enunciated by Confucius in

conversations with his disciples. These principles set standards for individual conduct and the
administration of government and community.

Confucius believes that the welfare of a country depends on the moral cultivation of its
people, beginning from the nation's leadership. He encouraged people to act with virtue,
with empathy and justice.

Mainly concerned in promoting moral values.

Obedience to parents, older brothers, husband or wife, and rulers.

Respect for age
Sincerity to friends.
The refusal to cause harm to others, even in words.
He espoused the well-known principle
Do not do unto others what you don't want others do unto you", the Golden Rule.

Identical harmonies in words and deeds

Rejection of hypocrisy
Care for common interest.
Encouraging beneficial arts.
Sympathizing with foreigners.
Self- Control
When anger rises, think of the consequences.

II.

Taoism or Daoism

Taoism is one of the great religions / philosophies of Ancient China (along

with Buddhism and Confucianism).
In 440 B.C. Taoism was adopted as a state religion of China, with Lao Tzu (so
called founder of Taoism) honoured as a deity.
Tao (pronounced 'Dao') can be defined as 'path', or 'road'. The way of the
Tao is the way of Nature and of ultimate reality. Tao is often described as a
force that flows through all life.

Lao-Tzu
Born: 6th5th century BC
Died: 531 BC

-was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is known as the reputed author of the Tao
Te Ching (Daodejing) and the founder of philosophical Taoism.

The Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) - often called simply Laozi after its reputed author, describes
the Dao (or Tao) as the source and ideal of all existence: it is unseen, but not transcendent,
immensely powerful yet supremely humble, being the root of all things. People have desires and
free will (and thus are able to alter their own nature). Many act "unnaturally", upsetting the
natural balance of the Dao. The Daodejing intends to lead students to a "return" to their natural
state, in harmony with Dao.

Central Concept
Wu wei
literally "non-action" or "not acting", is a central concept of the Daodejing. The concept of wu wei is
multifaceted, and reflected in the words' multiple meanings, even in English translation; it can mean
"not doing anything", "not forcing", "not acting" in the theatrical sense, "creating nothingness", "acting
spontaneously", and "flowing with the moment."
Laozi used the term broadly with simplicity and humility as key virtues, often in contrast to selfish
action. On a political level, it means avoiding such circumstances as war, harsh laws and heavy
taxes.
Some of Laozi's famous sayings include:
"Try to change it and you will ruin it. Try to hold it and you will lose it."

"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."
"The more that laws and regulations are given prominence, the more thieves and robbers there will
be."
Laozi, Tao Te Ching

III. Buddhism
Buddhism is a moral philosophy / religion based upon the teachings
of Siddhartha Gautama (566 - 486 B.C.).

Siddhartha Gautama became known as the Buddha. 'Buddha' (from the

ancient Indian languages of Pali and Sanskrit) means "one who has
awakened". It is derived from the verbal root "budh", meaning "to awaken"
or "to be enlightened", and "to comprehend".
The Buddha offered metaphysical knowledge into the nature of reality as
well as a moral way of life. The Middle Way is an important idea in Buddhist
thought and practice. To seek moderation and avoid the extremes of selfindulgence and self-mortification.
At the age of 35, meditating under a Bodhi tree, Siddhartha reached
Enlightenment, awakening to the true nature of reality, which is Nirvana
(Absolute Truth)
The Buddha taught that the nature of reality was impermanent and
interconnected. We suffer in life because of our desire to transient things.
Liberation from suffering may come by training the mind and acting
according to the laws of karma (cause and effect) i.e. with right action, good
things will come to you.
This teaching is known as the Four Noble Truths:
Dukkha: Suffering is everywhere
Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or misplaced
desire (tanha) rooted in ignorance.
Nirodha: There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana (the possibility of
liberation exists for everyone).
Maggo: There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble
Eightfold Path (right view, right thought, right speech, right conduct, right
vocation, right effort, right attention and right concentration).

IV. Hinduism
Hinduism is a term used to designate a body of religious and philosophical beliefs
indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is one of the worlds oldest religious
traditions, and it is founded upon what is often regarded as the oldest surviving text of
humanity: the Vedas. It is a religion practiced the world over. Countries with Hindu
majorities include Bali, India, Mauritius and Nepal.

Karma
A common thesis associated with Hinduism is the view that events in a persons life are
determined by karma. The term literally means action, but in this context it denotes the moral,
psychological spiritual and physical causal consequences of morally significant past choices.

Law of Karma--the moral law of action and reaction.

1. The present condition of your soul (confusion or
serenity) is a product of your past decisions. You have
made yourself what you are.
2. Your present thoughts, decisions, and actions
determine your future states. ("Unsettled state" = "bad
karma.") Karma can be altered through natural and moral
decision and action.
3. Every person gets what that person deserves--even
though decisions are freely arrived at, there is no chance
in the universe. Karma is the middle way
betweendeterminism and indeterminism.
4. The assumption is that we will not change the world in

any significant way--the world is the training ground for

Atman-Brahman.
5. There is no randomness or accident in the universe.
"There are no lost traces." Karma is not fate or strict
causality.

Hinduism might be identified with a core set of values, commonly known in Hindu
literature as thepururthas
, or ends of persons. The pururthas
are a set of four

values: dharma, artha, kmaand moka.

Dharma in the Pururtha

scheme and throughout much of Hindu literature

stands for the ethical or moral (in action, or in character, hence it is often
translated as duty).

artha for economic wealth.

kma for pleasure.

moka
for soteriological liberation from rebirth and imperfection.

The Caste System-(groups assigned by birth not personality).

The Hindu conception of the social order is that people are different,
and different people will fit well into different aspects of society. Social
order or social class according to varna forms the framework of moral
duties according to personal characteristics of individuals.
1. Brahmin: the seers, the reflective ones, the priests.

a. The intellectual and spiritual leaders.

b. In our society, they would correspond to the philosophers, religious

leaders, and teachers.

2. Kshatriyas-the born administrators (formerly nobles, rajahs,

and warriors).

a. The protectors of society.

b. In our society, the politicians, police, and the military.

3. Vaisyas- the producers, the craftsmen, artisans, farmers.

a. The skillful producers of material things.

b. In our society, the merchants.

4. Shudras- the unskilled laborers or laboring class.

a. The followers or the maintenance people.

b. The so-called menial workers or hard laborers.

Advantages to the Caste system. The heritability of intelligence and factors of

personality raise some interesting philosophical questions.
1. What we would like people to be is not usually what they are. Many
persons would be more comfortable in their own social class.
2. Unless unequals are separated into different classes, many persons
would be "born losers."
3. Egalitarianism is the belief that privileges are proportional to the
responsibilities and a denial of the tyranny of the majority.

Oriental Philosophy
Outline:

I. Confucianism
II. Taoism or Daoism
III. Buddhism
IV. Hinduism