One of the key virtues in Confucianism, humaneness, takes form in this passage from the Analects as a comparison to the wise. Confucianism relies on the virtues of humaneness, ritual propriety, loyalty, filial piety, and reciprocity as a set of guidelines in which to live a life of righteousness. Above all of these virtues is humaneness. A few questions are surely to arise when reading the passage above. For example, why is wisdom being compared with humaneness? What does it mean for the humane to delight in mountains? And why are the humane characterized as having long life? Before trying to unravel these questions, it will be useful to look at the aspects of humaneness.
Humaneness, or ren, is characterized as doing good to one another. Confucius believed that humans were born with this innate drive to treat others with kindness. Turning away from this inborn trait would mean to act immorally. Not acting morally would go against the constructs of society and the betterment of others. Therefore, an inhumane person would not be a junzi. To resist being negatively influenced by ones environment, an active state of self-cultivation must be put into practice. It is only through this education that one’s inborn moral characteristics can emerge and humaneness can be achieved. The comparison of the wise and the humane found in the …show more content…
“Is humaneness really so far away? If we ourselves wanted humaneness, then humaneness would arrive.” This reveals where humaneness can be found. For if one really wants to obtain humaneness, one does not have to look far, as it resides within us. The humane are at rest because they have come to the realization that a search for humaneness is not needed. The humane look within themselves and there they find what has been there all along. This nontangible substance is a part of what makes up human
Humaneness, or ren, is characterized as doing good to one another. Confucius believed that humans were born with this innate drive to treat others with kindness. Turning away from this inborn trait would mean to act immorally. Not acting morally would go against the constructs of society and the betterment of others. Therefore, an inhumane person would not be a junzi. To resist being negatively influenced by ones environment, an active state of self-cultivation must be put into practice. It is only through this education that one’s inborn moral characteristics can emerge and humaneness can be achieved. The comparison of the wise and the humane found in the …show more content…
“Is humaneness really so far away? If we ourselves wanted humaneness, then humaneness would arrive.” This reveals where humaneness can be found. For if one really wants to obtain humaneness, one does not have to look far, as it resides within us. The humane are at rest because they have come to the realization that a search for humaneness is not needed. The humane look within themselves and there they find what has been there all along. This nontangible substance is a part of what makes up human