Famous Masters | Guo Yi: Confucius' respect for personality

Human spiritual value is manifested as personality, so Confucius emphasizes respect for personality. When Zixia asked him why he was filial, he said, "It is difficult. There is something, the disciples are serving the work; if there is a wine and food, sir, I thought of filial piety?" , Always show on the face. Confucius said that it is difficult for parents and Yan Yue to be difficult to say that it is difficult to truly respect the personality of the parents.

Therefore, if you only serve your parents, only provide wine and food, that is, only maintaining the natural life of the parents, and not respecting the personality of the parents, then it is not filial. The monarchs and ministers should also respect each other: "The envoys of the monarchs to be courteous, and the ministers are loyal to the monarch." Essence

Among various types of people, Confucius also pays special attention to the respect of people with identity and disabled people: "Seeing Qi Loser, Crowneades and Crown, seeing it, although fewer, must do it; "" The Analects of Confucius • Zihan ")" The crowns and the 瞽, although obscene, must look at it. " The details of the crowns of the Blind Music Master:

Seeing the crown, and the order, Zi said, "step also." As also, Zi said, "Xi also." Sit, Zi said: "Someone is in Sri Lanka." Shi Mian came out. Zi Zhang asked: "And the way of the teacher?" Zi said: "Ran;

As we all know, in ancient times, the status of the musician was quite low. Confucius' meticulous concern for the crown was commendable. From the doubts of Zi Zhang, it can be known that at that time, the ordinary people did not respect the personality of the blind, and Confucius could do it, showing Confucius 'respect for the life and personality of others' lives and personality.

We know that Mencius and Xunzi, the other two Confucian masters in the pre -Qin period, attached great importance to people and beasts. For example, Mencius said: "People are different from those of beasts." : "The reason why people are people are not in their second feet without hairy, and they are distinguished." ("Xunzi • Fei Xiang") In fact, this idea can be traced back to their ancestor Confucius. Confucius not only distinguishes people from the perspective of natural life- "Burning. The son retreats, says:" hurts people? " The perspective of the spiritual value of life will distinguish the two:

Ziyou asked filial piety. Zi said: "The filial piety today is said to be able to raise. As for dogs and horses, they can be raised; why not disrespect?"

Confucius believes that people not only have the right to survive, but also have the right to be respected; if there is no latter, people will not be a person, and people will be no different from animals, because even dogs and horses have the right to survive. This again illustrates "respect", that is, respect the spirit of the spiritual value and personality of life. Here, although Confucius' argument is made by his parents, the attitude of his respect of the super -class personality is also completely suitable for everyone.

It is under the guidance of this kind of rigidity and poultry. Confucius sent out the sigh of "birds and beasts cannot be in the same group, who of my non -biitans and who and who and who and who are" ("The Analects of Confucius • Weizi") Essence This is showing Confucius' human rights outlook. This idea of ​​Confucius not only affected Meng and Xun, but also had a different degree of influence on Confucianism in the past.

(The author is a professor at the Department of Philosophy of the National University of Seoul, the Vice President of the International Confucian Federation, and a member of the Academic Committee of Nishan World Confucianism Center)

Source | "Why does Confucianism open to the new" (the first series of the Nishan Confucian Library)

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