What does the conceptual framework of Confucianism have to offer us?
Part II of II
...The West through the ancient philosophy of the Greeks led the way for philosophy. But leading implies going somewhere.
The question is where? The answer appears to be toward an understanding of ourselves, our universe, and the cause of our universe.
The key concept of Confucianism appears to orient around the statement, ‘[the gentleman] was to think for himself guided by definite rules of conduct.’
This was the means by which an orderly society could preserve itself and it was through an orderly society that humankind could achieve its purpose.
What was humankind’s purpose?
Why was the universe created? What is the soul?
What are the definite rules of conduct?
How are we to sense the ‘way’ if we don’t know what our purpose is? Confucianism had a major impact upon the lives of billions, but it still fell short of a unified view.
It began with the construction of the framework but it lacked the foundation, the understanding of the answer to the question, Why?
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This in no way diminishes the positive impact Confucianism had and still has upon society.
It simply implies Confucianism, like everything else, would be much stronger if it had a foundation of understanding to support it.
End