Even in a meritocratic society a hierarchy is created based on the choices and talents of its citizens, so Confucius's observation, in that regard, is correct. The challenge is to what extent is that an excuse for the state to impose that hierarchy, and how much of that hierarchy is built not through voluntary interactions but naked force.
The ideal society of Confusius school of thoughts is written clearly in the first chapter of Li-ji (禮記 禮運大同篇)。 The time when Confusius formed his school, China is not a unified nation and the feudalitic system of Zhou Kingdom was crumbling. There was no precedent to what the soceity can function outside of feudalism at the time, so he had to use whatever understanding he had to formulate his idea. Unfortunately that was full of feudalistic ideals. Confucius himself never rule out of pragmatism and embracing change. His school took students from all status in the society shoed that he knew the old feudalism is dying and never to come back. However, the center to the school of thought is that the harmonious society can only be achieved if and only if the ruler embrace unconditional and fair love (仁) to his subjects, which binds his attitude and actions. If he does not follow it, then the nation will go into power struggle on all levels that leads into chaos.
Qin Shi Huang did not just muerder confucius scholars. He destroyed the circulation of all philosophy in China. Confucius school is lacking in metaphysics and epistemology, and the destruction of pre-Qin philosophy still plague Chinese culture to this day. A lot of metaphysics was hidden in Taoist writing and never been openly deciphered before communists took over and destroyed most of it. Epistemology was so lost that it has to be reintroduced from the West. After Qin, Confucius school literature was recovered from his home and surviving scholar recited the whole thing to be documented. So we are leaving with Chofucius and Taoism when almost everything else other than Fa-ja (Chinese totalitarianism) were lost. Since then, every dynasty wear the mask of Confucius while run the nation by Fa-ja.
One more thing to note regarding Confucius school of thought. There are a few historical hallmark events in Confucius school. Two are overthrowing unjust rulers of Xia and Shan dynasty. And it is stated that anyone can rise up and dethrone an unjust ruler who knowingly violate the rules from heaven. Taoism draws ideas from those events also, except their side of the story circulated is more like the Lord of the Ring cross with Star Wars.
Another factor is the Asian cultural norm (predating the 20th century) of valuing the well-being of your group (family, community, etc.) above yourself. This is not unique to China but was common in many Asian cultures for centuries. Unsurprisingly the CCP has also co-opted this idea by teaching that the Party is the highest group in the hierarchy to which you must subsume yourself. The idea of choosing to value something else above yourself is not inherently bad, I think it's actually essential for successful families. But it is unfortunate that it has been abused so effectively by those whose goal is increasing their own power and wealth, knowing it is at the expense of so many others.
Valuing your family is not putting your (good) family "above yourself". It is a value for one to selfishly retain for one's happiness & for engaging in shared, more day-to-day, values. Doing so is a benefit to each other *not* a case of coordinating oneself to others. The fact that people think that way reveals their acceptance of altruism (self-sacrifice) as a high moral ideal. Altruism is fundamental to the ethics of tribalism, 'community', nationalism, socialism, & ultimately communism. It is the moral antithesis of *individual* rights & freedoms.
@@richardbramwell8876 Individual liberty is hardly in opposition to altruism. The problem isn't the willingness to sacrifice one's self for others, but the willingness to permit (or enable) other's to decide who needs to be sacrificed on their behalf (whether that decision is imposed by physical force, social pressure, or whatever other means). True individual liberty includes the right (and responsibility) to do whatever you can (short of depriving others of their rights) to support what you value (up to and including self sacrifice).
Great video. Never noticed that subtly about those words. There were several liberty-minded Chinese philosophers Mencius, a disciple of Confucius and Bao Jingyan who took inspiration from Daoism. Wu wei, a central concept of Daoism was mentioned once in the Dao De Jing much like the phrase “invisible hand” was mentioned once in Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. As for that question, Confucius was a philosopher of his time, not too different from Plato who wanted a philosopher king to rule. There weren’t many ideas with examples they could look to. Fun facts: The Hundred Schools of Thought in China occurred during the Warring States Period. The Seven Sages of Greece (Pre-Socratics) emerged when Greece was at war with Persia. Socrates, himself, was a veteran of the Peloponnesian War.
I can't claim any great expertise on these things but it seems to me you might have missed out another important historical figure. Namely Sun Tzu. I think it's fair to say he is essentially the Chinese equivalent of Machiavelli. And yet he also been called a Taoist.
Naah, I think a philosopher- king will be more of a wordy oppressor and do things in a round about way like ,as one Chinese netizen put it, "Teach leeks to love the Scythe."
Confucius was but an imposer of nostalgia, a nostalgia longing for a return to the most ancient form of central asian authority structure and traditions，everytime china wants to embrace something new like a reformation of its systems, some weirdo confician emperor wannabe comes along and calls everyone to return to their "Spiritual" roots of emperor worshipping and ruins the revolutionary efforts.
Thank you for posting this video! Really learned a lot about how Taoism and Confucianism relate to present-day China as ruled by the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party. Very interesting!
The CCP is an atheistic party. The Soviet Union was atheistic. Lack of religion isn't stopping anybody or any state from committing evil. The lack of religion actually seems to make the massacres order of magnitudes bigger.
action in Hong Kong is debatable. any country would have a crackdown if the west revealed the truth of what happened in Hong Kong. the protests started in 2019, yet the crackdown didn't happen until September/Oct of 2020. the main reason for the change of attitude was the protest became highly violent. ordinary citizens were hurt, police officers were killed, businesses burned down, and public infrastructure was destroyed. were there situations where the police used too much force? yes, definitely, but in the heat of conflict, you can't really blame the police, just like you can't ask the police to try to shoot a criminal's arms or legs when the suspect is holding a knife in his/her hand. as for Confucius, his core ideology was not harmony but loyalty. the core of Confucius's teaching can be summarized into one sentence: choose family loyalty over brotherhood loyalty and choose loyalty towards the emperor over family loyalty. the idea of loyalty towards the emperor has been crammed into Chinese people's heads for 4000 years, so Mao didn't really twist Confucius's ideas; he actually went back to Confucius compared to what the KMT was doing. You have to consider the time frame in which Confucius's idea was created; it was created when China was a feudalistic state; thus, his idea and philosophy were all created to serve the feudalist emperor, and that's why his ideas were never abandoned throughout Chinese history regardless of dynasties. in essence, China under Mao was no different from China under any emperor; the emperor had all the power, he could execute anyone he desired, and he could change the law in whatever way he wanted; he could change the tax codes by the end of the day. the only difference between the emperors was some emperors were more forgiving, and others, like Mao, were tyrants.
Hail Taoist Wisdoms 🎉 and Confucius guidance is also good. Together… much great success to all. Ccp is too narrow minded and overly concerned with looking good while performing poorly. 1 child? Made a huge and easily predicable mistake… all the poor girls killed young. Now all the poor young men. Hard to get a wife… Just obvious.
![[[OFFICIAL MV]] เอิ้นขวัญให้อ้าย- อ๊ะอาย สกุณาพร | ค่ายเพลงเป็นหนึ่ง](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/83x6L3X3qh0/mqdefault.jpg)
Even in a meritocratic society a hierarchy is created based on the choices and talents of its citizens, so Confucius's observation, in that regard, is correct. The challenge is to what extent is that an excuse for the state to impose that hierarchy, and how much of that hierarchy is built not through voluntary interactions but naked force.
Super video. Expecting video on private education and public education system and your views on it.
The ideal society of Confusius school of thoughts is written clearly in the first chapter of Li-ji (禮記 禮運大同篇)。
The time when Confusius formed his school, China is not a unified nation and the feudalitic system of Zhou Kingdom was crumbling. There was no precedent to what the soceity can function outside of feudalism at the time, so he had to use whatever understanding he had to formulate his idea. Unfortunately that was full of feudalistic ideals. Confucius himself never rule out of pragmatism and embracing change. His school took students from all status in the society shoed that he knew the old feudalism is dying and never to come back.
However, the center to the school of thought is that the harmonious society can only be achieved if and only if the ruler embrace unconditional and fair love (仁) to his subjects, which binds his attitude and actions. If he does not follow it, then the nation will go into power struggle on all levels that leads into chaos.
Qin Shi Huang did not just muerder confucius scholars. He destroyed the circulation of all philosophy in China. Confucius school is lacking in metaphysics and epistemology, and the destruction of pre-Qin philosophy still plague Chinese culture to this day. A lot of metaphysics was hidden in Taoist writing and never been openly deciphered before communists took over and destroyed most of it. Epistemology was so lost that it has to be reintroduced from the West. After Qin, Confucius school literature was recovered from his home and surviving scholar recited the whole thing to be documented. So we are leaving with Chofucius and Taoism when almost everything else other than Fa-ja (Chinese totalitarianism) were lost. Since then, every dynasty wear the mask of Confucius while run the nation by Fa-ja.
One more thing to note regarding Confucius school of thought. There are a few historical hallmark events in Confucius school. Two are overthrowing unjust rulers of Xia and Shan dynasty. And it is stated that anyone can rise up and dethrone an unjust ruler who knowingly violate the rules from heaven.
Taoism draws ideas from those events also, except their side of the story circulated is more like the Lord of the Ring cross with Star Wars.
There is nothing new under the Sun and any ideas that were lost will simply be rediscovered some day.
Another factor is the Asian cultural norm (predating the 20th century) of valuing the well-being of your group (family, community, etc.) above yourself. This is not unique to China but was common in many Asian cultures for centuries. Unsurprisingly the CCP has also co-opted this idea by teaching that the Party is the highest group in the hierarchy to which you must subsume yourself. The idea of choosing to value something else above yourself is not inherently bad, I think it's actually essential for successful families. But it is unfortunate that it has been abused so effectively by those whose goal is increasing their own power and wealth, knowing it is at the expense of so many others.
Valuing your family is not putting your (good) family "above yourself". It is a value for one to selfishly retain for one's happiness & for engaging in shared, more day-to-day, values. Doing so is a benefit to each other *not* a case of coordinating oneself to others.
The fact that people think that way reveals their acceptance of altruism (self-sacrifice) as a high moral ideal. Altruism is fundamental to the ethics of tribalism, 'community', nationalism, socialism, & ultimately communism. It is the moral antithesis of *individual* rights & freedoms.
@@richardbramwell8876
Individual liberty is hardly in opposition to altruism.
The problem isn't the willingness to sacrifice one's self for others, but the willingness to permit (or enable) other's to decide who needs to be sacrificed on their behalf (whether that decision is imposed by physical force, social pressure, or whatever other means).
True individual liberty includes the right (and responsibility) to do whatever you can (short of depriving others of their rights) to support what you value (up to and including self sacrifice).
Great video. Never noticed that subtly about those words.
There were several liberty-minded Chinese philosophers Mencius, a disciple of Confucius and Bao Jingyan who took inspiration from Daoism.
Wu wei, a central concept of Daoism was mentioned once in the Dao De Jing much like the phrase “invisible hand” was mentioned once in Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations.
As for that question, Confucius was a philosopher of his time, not too different from Plato who wanted a philosopher king to rule. There weren’t many ideas with examples they could look to.
Fun facts: The Hundred Schools of Thought in China occurred during the Warring States Period. The Seven Sages of Greece (Pre-Socratics) emerged when Greece was at war with Persia. Socrates, himself, was a veteran of the Peloponnesian War.
國家 as a Chinese phrase existed before communists took over. It would be interesting to trace first use of this phrase.
I can't claim any great expertise on these things but it seems to me you might have missed out another important historical figure. Namely Sun Tzu. I think it's fair to say he is essentially the Chinese equivalent of Machiavelli. And yet he also been called a Taoist.
Wisdom in the east and west is often twisted for political goals and special interest groups ......
Yep.
Naah, I think a philosopher- king will be more of a wordy oppressor and do things in a round about way like ,as one Chinese netizen put it, "Teach leeks to love the Scythe."
Since you know you're a leek, that really says it all.
“We teach people correct principles and let them govern themselves.”
-So said a wise man
Yes, this is why I'd rather libertarianism to legislate and govern while conservatism only to guide.
Mao was actually a Legalist (think Qui Shi Huang), and he actively persecuted real Confucians.
6:00
@@user-qd3rz7fb1t Exactly.
Very interesting aspect to analyze, thank you.
Confucius was but an imposer of nostalgia, a nostalgia longing for a return to the most ancient form of central asian authority structure and traditions，everytime china wants to embrace something new like a reformation of its systems, some weirdo confician emperor wannabe comes along and calls everyone to return to their "Spiritual" roots of emperor worshipping and ruins the revolutionary efforts.
This is perfect!
Confucianism is colectivism just as soscialism and conservatism. The difference is how to group people: on race, religion, countries, or class.
The Jews have been around since time immemorial!
Good one! Thanks!
Thank you for posting this video! Really learned a lot about how Taoism and Confucianism relate to present-day China as ruled by the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party. Very interesting!
The greatest trick the devil did was to convince them that religion is the opposite of evil when it's the source.
The CCP is an atheistic party. The Soviet Union was atheistic. Lack of religion isn't stopping anybody or any state from committing evil. The lack of religion actually seems to make the massacres order of magnitudes bigger.
Mao is the same as genghis khan
You mean JP Morgan?
action in Hong Kong is debatable. any country would have a crackdown if the west revealed the truth of what happened in Hong Kong. the protests started in 2019, yet the crackdown didn't happen until September/Oct of 2020. the main reason for the change of attitude was the protest became highly violent. ordinary citizens were hurt, police officers were killed, businesses burned down, and public infrastructure was destroyed. were there situations where the police used too much force? yes, definitely, but in the heat of conflict, you can't really blame the police, just like you can't ask the police to try to shoot a criminal's arms or legs when the suspect is holding a knife in his/her hand.
as for Confucius, his core ideology was not harmony but loyalty. the core of Confucius's teaching can be summarized into one sentence: choose family loyalty over brotherhood loyalty and choose loyalty towards the emperor over family loyalty. the idea of loyalty towards the emperor has been crammed into Chinese people's heads for 4000 years, so Mao didn't really twist Confucius's ideas; he actually went back to Confucius compared to what the KMT was doing. You have to consider the time frame in which Confucius's idea was created; it was created when China was a feudalistic state; thus, his idea and philosophy were all created to serve the feudalist emperor, and that's why his ideas were never abandoned throughout Chinese history regardless of dynasties. in essence, China under Mao was no different from China under any emperor; the emperor had all the power, he could execute anyone he desired, and he could change the law in whatever way he wanted; he could change the tax codes by the end of the day. the only difference between the emperors was some emperors were more forgiving, and others, like Mao, were tyrants.
Zombie Apocalypse!!!
How Jews Twisted Ancient Chinese Wisdom
It is sad.
Hail Taoist Wisdoms 🎉
and Confucius guidance is also good. Together… much great success to all.
Ccp is too narrow minded and overly concerned with looking good while performing poorly.
1 child? Made a huge and easily predicable mistake… all the poor girls killed young. Now all the poor young men. Hard to get a wife…
Just obvious.
this video is more like propaganda supported by US fund
Your username says everything
@@kadeksumiadi6591 yeah~ nice try this video, I don't bite it.
Hope for China ok how about hope for the USA.
Based communism
haha bull shit
Yet you have no backup
CCP has your paycheck ready.
Agree with you
@@jasonmajere2165 LOL，all you can do is slandering other. how low you are