Choose one topic from the ten topics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Choose one topic from the ten topics - Essay ExampleNeo-Confucianism The East Asian world of hu humans character is primarily communicate by Confucianism. Confucianism is described as a humanistic religion since Confucianism understands and perceives that the Ultimate, of the imminent power, of the transcendent, of the world, life and death are linked to and founded on exploring human nature together with human destiny (Yao, 2000, p. 46). In following Mencius, Neo-Confucian ideology adopted the notion that human nature is good as opposed to evil. However, Neo-Confucian philosophers modified this purposeion of human nature by distinguishing deterrent example nature from physical nature (de Barry & Bloom, 1999). In this regard, the Neo-Confucian philosophy conceptualized the human moral nature as inherently good. This was because, the moral nature of mankind consisted of li and the physical nature of mankind consisted of chi indicating that physical nature could be good and/or bad (Lecture Notes). In this regard, the Confucian concept of li refers to that which is real. In terms of human nature, li refers to that which is passed onto man from Heaven and in this regard it is good. However, li had to be cultivated to ensure that man followed his moral nature (Yao, 2000). Therefore the concept of li provides the justification for faithfulness and order which is intended to cultivate mans moral nature for maintaining order. The concept of chi provided even further justification for law and order in regulating the lives of the individual. Chi refers to material and vital forces which operate either in viscidity with li or inconsistently with li (Yao, 2000). In other words, man was naturally good, but physical forces could have a negative impact on mans moral nature if the moral nature was no cultivated. Buddhists on the other hand, do not recognize that which they domiciliatenot see, hear, speak, think, and move and only those things they can see, hear, think, speak, and move are regarded as nature (de Barry & Bloom, 1999, p. 714). From the Buddhist perspective, that which is heard, seen, spoken, though or moved, does not have to be clear in order to be dependent as nature. In this regard, nature may be confusing and this explains why Buddhists do not generally perceive the many moral principles inherent in them (de Barry & Bloom, 1999, p. 714). Classical Confucianism As for classical Confucianism, the original traditions of Confucianism were founded by Confucius and Mengzi and Mengzis theory of human nature served as the background for the classic Confucian concept of moral nature. Mengzis theory of human nature were among the most influential and provides the foundations for what is widely accepted as human nature. Mengzis theory of human nature provides a profound understanding of how law and order is maintained (de Barry & Bloom, 1999). Mengzis contributions were converted into the Four Books by Confucian scholars in the Song Dynasty . At the same time, Xunzi unquestionable a theory that was different from Mengzis. According to Xunzi, human nature was evil and Heaven was an impersonal power or natural principle (Yao, 2000, p. 71). Xunzi stressed law (fa) and ritual/propriety (li) as opposed to