Hey Everybody!
So while reading Confucius's Analects, there are multiple reference's to not treating people as inferiors and the equality among people. At the same time there are also many chapters in which he mentions that "gentlemen" must act a certain way or else they will be no better than the "small man." This in itself perpetuates inequality, which seems really strange and contradicting...anybody else able to make sense of it?
Anu
I think the term "gentleman" and "small man" are based on their conduct rather than their social status. Confucius mentions equality among people meaning in terms of treatment and their actions towards other, and I feel as if being better than the "small man" doesn't necessarily put someone else down or treat other people inferiorly. Rather, it is having respect for yourself and others, and being a small man basically just means that they are not following the proper ways of being disciplined.
ReplyDeleteI believe that 'small man' and 'inferiors' are two different concepts here. By saying a gentleman shouldn't be a small man, it means that a 'small man' is a inhumane person (not having the qualities that a gentleman should) but an inferior man would relate more to something like a monetary value. Maybe a less fortunate person but who is humane thus the Master mentions doing a self assessment when coming across an inferior person.
ReplyDeleteWhen Confucius says that it was the "duty of the gentleman in the social sense to behave as gentlemen in the ethical sense", I believe he is trying to imply that no matter which social group you belong to, the noble or the ignoble, you must always act as if you were a gentleman. The Analects also stresses the importance of identifying the best and the worst in others. Confucius is trying to say that a "gentleman" should adopt the best in others, and perceive the worst in the "small man", and try to avoid to adopt those actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tiffany and Quadrat in that the terms "small man" and "gentleman" are not necessarily connected to social status- these terms are used to judge behavior and humaneness, neither of which pertain to the social hierarchy. Although the term "small man" in Chinese literally translates to a small person, it has connotations with someone who is greedy, selfish, and generally looked down upon; however you look at it, calling someone a "small man" diminishes them. Despite this being said, the humaneness of a person is not used to judge social standing, which is more subjected to monetary standing and job positions.
ReplyDeleteAmy Shih