The Confucian gentleman Essay Example

The Confucian gentleman Paper The Confucian gentleman has high standards for being a man in which the virtues that would be able to perfect society are implemented; the said virtues being humility, magnanimity, sincerity, diligence, graciousness, self-respect, generosity, and benevolence. With such standards to aid society as a whole as well as achieve ones own happiness, the components of the gentleman is to be known, and if According to the standards within the Lin Yu, has the Confucian gentleman survived to present time? In order to come to a conclusion, research was done on not only the characteristics Confucius and his pupil deemed the gentleman to posses, in essence the virtues, as well as how it progressed through time in analysis of other philosophies. The Ancient Days of Athens and the early Hellenistic period were analyzed with the works of the Platonists and the creator of Epicureanism, to see the courageous step in upholding personal justice, virtues and morals to seek ones own happiness. One of the most influential philosophers of the Middle ages, Thomas Aquinas is then studied as well to see that in his cardinal virtues; prudence, temperance, courage, and justice, the Gentleman may not only exist but even part the Golden rule which was a huge component of his. The Age of Enlightenment is then discerned with its scientific mind of Kant and the path of happiness stated by dHolbach, bringing forth a more general view on the virtues needed for happiness and becoming a true man. We will write a custom essay sample on The Confucian gentleman specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Confucian gentleman specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Confucian gentleman specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The present is then inquired with interviews of current day society, resulting in the presence of the Confucian Gentleman, though different in form and thought, despite all the time, having each era concur with its existence, the idea of the Gentleman lives on. Introduction Since the beginning of time man has always been the dominant figure in all of history. It is man who rules, wages war, and works hard to someday attain peace, honor and pride as well as any other thing that is considered a necessity of life. Over the millennia people have evolved in a way beyond the basics of physical aspects and have reached levels of insight that have spread over many regions, that which are withheld and respected; an example of this is the makings of man. In ancient China, circa 500 B. C, there lived a man who was known as the first teacher, Kung Fu tze, or more commonly known in English as Confucius (circa 551-479 BC), a wise man regarded as a famous sage and a social philosopher. A most notable conduct that he had taught was the essence of a true man, the epitome of all good and virtuous, a gentleman. Confucius had written four famous books that are read and following his teachings; the Lun Yi , also known as Confuciuss Analects. In every era, including now, man has tried to understand and find what is needed to become a True Man, someone to be revered and helpful, in order to gain a sense of happiness and achievement. Men try to become more manly or gentleman-like to rise in society. This same instance arose in China with Confucius descriptions of becoming a gentleman, and it was his gentleman that was sought after by thousands of followers. From that the question arises; if the ideas, the virtues the Confucian Gentleman followed were to be interpreted differently due to such differences between Eastern and Western philosophy, as well as the possibility of favoring other virtues, has the Confucian gentleman survived to present day? With that knowledge, one could see the present methods to reach Gentleman status and whether society can be aided with those characteristics. The Confucian Gentleman Before the Western philosophers are to be analyzed on their individual accounts, an in-depth premise must be set for the Confucian gentleman and thus compared after seeing the virtues it holds. First off, it must be noted that virtues are what they are in ethics alone, and by their implications, ethics and morals are defined and instituted. The teachings of Confucius hold three terms; in Chinese, the terms used in his writings are Li, Jen and Chn-Tzu; Li having many translations but considered as either of the following: propriety, reverence, courtesy, ritual or the ideal standard of conduct, where the most appropriate definition would be propriety, taken from the Latin propius, which means making ones own, thus the other definitions would follow suit with the virtues which would be passed on (Aarweb, N.D. ). Jen is the idea of humaneness, goodness, benevolence or man-to-manness (McDowell Stewart, 2006), it is the virtue of goodness and benevolence that makes his ethics a moral system and therein the creation of the Golden Rule (aka the Silver Rule) which Confucius later on summarizes in his Analects: Do not do to others what you would not like them to do to you. (Analects 15:23) [NOTE: Due to multiple versions of the translated Lun , the specific chapters and verses listed are to not be dependant with other versions] (Zukeran, 2002); and finally, Chi n-Tzu, translated as the gentleman, true manhood, the superior man, and man-at-his-best, the ultimate aim of Confucius teachings. Under the laws of Li and Jen one aims to become a Chi n-Tzu, being in social relations on an ethical base driven by virtues alone that would thus, if all would be brought together, create peace. Now as aforementioned, they are they are the virtues that hold dominion over the defining characteristic of the gentleman have no precise definition, thus some verses from the Lun Yi must be observed. First, it is to be established that the Confucian Gentleman practiced the following: self-respect, generosity, sincerity, persistence, and benevolence (Zukeran, 2002). Confucius had also said: He who in this world can practice five things may indeed be considered man-at-his-best. What are they? They are humility, magnanimity, sincerity, diligence, and graciousness. If you are humble, you will not be laughed at. If you are magnanimous, you will attract many to your side. If you are sincere, people will trust you. If you are gracious, you will get along well with your subordinates. It is this type of man who can transform society into the peaceful state it was meant to be. (McDowell Stewart, 2006). The following verses from the Lun Yi also provide further insight into the Confucian gentleman: 12:2-Chung-kung asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, It is, when you go abroad, to behave to everyone as if you were receiving a great guest; to employ the people as if you were assisting at a great sacrifice; not to do to others as you would not wish done to yourself; to have no murmuring against you in the country and none in the family. Chung-kung said, Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson. (Velasquez, 2005) 12:1-Yen Yuan asked about perfect virtue. The Master said, To subdue ones self and return to propriety, is perfect virtue. If a man can for one day subdue himself and return to propriety all under heaven will ascribe perfect virtue to him. Is the practice of perfect virtue then from a man himself or is it from the other? Yen Yuan said, I beg to ask the steps of the process. The Master replied, Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not to what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety. Yen Yuan then said, Though I am deficient in intelligence and vigor, I will make it my business to practice this lesson. (Velasquez, 2005) With those, the gentleman is seen as said, a man-of-manness, living bounded to reciprocity and expressing the virtues in which one can not only move himself closer to the gentleman status, but which can also benefit those around himself with the altruistic mind set which the said Confucian gentleman would carry about himself in the search and keeping of perfect virtue; Confucius stating, A gentleman needs to have three basic characters, which I have not lived up to. Be benevolent with no worry; be wise with no bepuzzlement; be courageous with no fear as well as being unlike an implement, bringing aid by his benevolence and with the wisdom he has attained, fearing no situation or obstacle in his path despite the place he is visiting or living in(Csymbol, 2001). With such strict yet admirable standards, the Confucian Gentleman could have not possibly survived over the centuries with all the change in cultures and thinking.

Australia was Born Capitalist Indeed Capitalism came with essays

Australia was Born Capitalist Indeed Capitalism came with essays Capitalism is based on a system of economic organisation characterised by the private ownership of the means of production including land, tools and materials. It is where the accumulation of market-based control over the production and distribution of goods and services is placed into the hands of a few people known as the private sector. Australia, was a product of the then dominant capitalist power, Britain, and with this came its economic structure. Among several significant reasons, the motivation for the colonial settlement of Australia, like that of India, North America and parts of Africa, was to encourage Britains expansion. However, in this instance, there was no pre-capitalist period of European Australian history. There was no peasantry in Australia, no pre-industrial inheritance to modify or to hinder growth - virtually giving the settlers a blank slate to develop for trade and pursue any means for profit, on their own, by their own hand, without access to indentured or other local labour. Therefore, one can propose the question, is capitalism conceived by individuals, or by the society in which they live? Basically, as with most political structures, the Capitalist structure of power produced capitalist ways of thinking in those with access to wealth. Those without access developed other ideas and this led to socialism. Therefore, if you changed the socio-political structure of the society, through socialists or labour parties who want to distribute wealth more evenly, you would be able to change the extent to which capitalism operated. Consequently, such a view suggests capitalism is the cause of behaviours. Alternatively, one could say that capitalist thinking prompted structures that supported it and subsequently, the structures were the effect, not the cause of capitalism. In 1788 N.S.W was considered a free market where, as in North America, anyone prepared to roll up their sleeves and clear some la...

The Evolution of the Farm Tractor

The Evolution of the Farm Tractor The first engine-powered farm tractors used steam and were introduced in 1868. These engines were built as small road locomotives and were handled by one operator if the engine weighed less than 5 tons. They were used for general road haulage and in particular by the timber trade. The most popular steam tractor was the Garrett 4CD. Gasoline Powered Tractors According to the book Vintage Farm Tractors by Ralph W. Sanders, Credit goes to the Charter Gasoline Engine Company of Sterling in Illinois for first successfully using gasoline as fuel. Charters creation of a gasoline-fueled engine in 1887 soon led to early gasoline traction engines before the term tractor was coined by others. Charter adapted its engine to a Rumley steam-traction-engine chassis and in 1889 produced six of the machines to become one of the first working gasoline traction engines. John Froelich Sanders book Vintage Farm Tractors also discusses several other early gas-powered tractors. This includes one invented by John Froelich, a custom Thresherman from Iowa who decided to try gasoline power for threshing. He mounted a Van Duzen gasoline engine on a Robinson chassis and rigged his own gearing for propulsion. Froelich used the machine successfully to power a threshing machine by belt during his fifty-two day harvest season of 1892 in South Dakota. The Froelich tractor, forerunner of the later Waterloo Boy tractor, is considered by many to be the first successful gasoline tractor known. Froelichs machine fathered a long line of stationary gasoline engines and, eventually, the famous John Deere two-cylinder tractor. William Paterson J.I. Cases first pioneering efforts at producing a gas traction engine date back to 1894, or maybe earlier to when William Paterson of Stockton, California came to Racine to make an experimental engine for Case. Case ads in the 1940s, harking back to the firms history in the gas tractor field, claimed 1892 as the date for Patersons gas traction engine, though patent dates suggest 1894. The early machine ran, but not well enough to be produced. Charles Hart and Charles Parr Charles W. Hart and Charles H. Parr began their pioneering work on gas engines in the late 1800s while studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. In 1897, the two men formed the Hart-Parr Gasoline Engine Company of Madison. Three years later, they moved their operation to Harts hometown of Charles City, Iowa, where they received financing to make gas traction engines based on their innovative ideas. Their efforts led them to erect the first factory in the United States dedicated to the production of gas traction engines. Hart-Parr is also credited with coining the word tractor for machines that had previously been called gas traction engines. The firms first tractor effort, Hart-Parr No.1, was made in 1901. Ford Tractors Henry Ford produced his first experimental gasoline-powered tractor in 1907 under the direction of chief engineer Joseph Galamb. Back then, it was referred to as an automobile plow and the name tractor was not used. After 1910, gasoline powered tractors were used extensively in farming. Frick Tractors The Frick Company was located in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. George Frick started his business in 1853 and built steam engines well into the 1940s. The Frick Company was also well known for sawmills and refrigeration units.

Aldes Middle East (FZE). The Microeconomic And Macroeconomic Impact Of Research Paper

Aldes Middle East (FZE). The Microeconomic And Macroeconomic Impact Of Industries On The Economy Of The Uae - Research Paper Example The company was able to add 20 million Euros more in the total sales revenue in 2005. The year 2008 witnessed a very welcomed situation for the company as the revenue from sales skyrocketed to 215 million Euros in that year. (Aldes Middle East) The two products offered by the company are accessories of protection from fire and that of distribution of air. For more than three decades the company is involved in providing safer solutions to protection from fire inside all types of buildings. The company offers safe and modernized solutions to fire protection. The company has participated in several committees in Europe to deliver the experiences it has acquired in fire protection. The company offers such products with solutions that will prevent the smoke or the heat to spread to other parts apart from the area under fire. Another service by the company is solution in smoke extraction that will help people to escape from the building under fire. Another service by the company is solutio n in smoke extraction that will help people to escape from the building under fire. The company is has been able to deliver over one million fire dampers and more than 5 Lakhs dampers that exhaust smoke and guarantee the safety in buildings of all types. The company is a key player in airflow control. It has also started making grilles and diffusers in the year 2000 with the incorporation of Euro Register, a worldwide specialist. Services that provides comfort much higher than the normal level need to be developed to master the control of airflow (Aldes Middle East, air distribution). Some of the keys that will ensure perfect flow of air in home or in office are thermal control, acoustic control and aeraulic control. Within a decade the company offered a proper indoor air quality that includes air renewal and hygiene to the consumers. The company has also shed its mark in providing a correct indoor air quality and solutions that relatively consume low energy. The services include va riable air volume solutions and constant regulation of airflow. The company offers reliable, efficient and aesthetic air diffusion solutions. The company is proud to deliver more than 3 lakhs of airflow regulators in a year. The two main competitors of the company are Al-Tahadi Security and Safety and NAFFCO. Costs of Production The three costs of production involves are costs of raw materials, costs of transportation and costs of monitoring. The cost of raw materials is the most important in the production process. For fire extinguishers the raw material includes the cost of apparatus and the cost of fire extinguishing powder. The fire extinguishers are produced in a factory. From the factory, the products are transported to the showrooms or the service delivery centers. The customers arrive at those centers and it is the duty of the company to transport the products where the product is assigned to be delivered. So the transport cost is such type of cost which the company includes in the accounted price of the product. The next important cost is the cost of monitoring. The company recruits people for monitoring whether the equipments are performing correctly or in optimal fashion at the centers. The company is required to pay wages to these

My Internship Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Internship Report - Essay Example Both of these activities contributed significantly to my knowledge. In the second week, I started paper trading of JGB futures under Mr.Daimon, I learned how to speculate on the market movement. In the third and fourth weeks under Mr.Matsumura, I was working on a project which involved downloading time-series data from the database called CQG and analyzing the tendency of the market movement using Excel. I detected a conspicuous tendency in the market movement and was able to create some trade ideas in the end. These assignments have given me more confidence in dealing with tasks in such areas. After these four weeks, I moved to the FX floor which is the bank division of Nomura, and the manager there was Mr.Tonkin. I started my rotation within the FX floor from spot trading under Ms.Ito and Mr.Omae. I learned the basics of FX spot trading for three days, and then moved to FX forwards trading under Mr.Tonkin and Mr.Nakayama. Mr.Tonkin had given me an assignment to fix Swap Pricer spreadsheet and add more functions to it, so I was working on Excel most of the time. But I was also watching and assisting Mr.Nakayama's forward trading, and learning how the deals are made. The information I picked up in these weeks has added significantly to my skill sets. During my stay on this team, the market showed a lot of movement, and it was an invaluable experience to be able to stay on the trading floor in this kind of atypical situation. After FX forwards trading, I moved to the sales division. Under Mr.Furumi, I was working on data collection and analysis of investment trust funds, and in the very last week of this internship, I created an Option Pricing spreadsheet under Mr.Osawa. The Induction Training on the very first day was extremely important to me as well because I was able to learn how the company is organized and came to know about company rules and regulations. Some of the information was pure common-sense but some of it I did not know before. I think since our business is involved with conserving, monitoring and increasing money, we really need to have this kind of training to completely learn the rules of business and the characteristics of this industry.

Free College Essays - Religious Symbols and Symbolism in Sweat :: Hurston Sweat Essays

Religious Symbolism in "Sweat" Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat" is a short story rich in moral and religious parallels. This story is about a common African- American working woman in the deep South and how she clings to her faith in God to see her through the hardships caused by her faithful and abusive husband. Throughout this story there is religious symbolism that characterizes Delia and Sykes Jones as two people on opposite ends of the moral spectrum yet bound by marital vows that have lost their meaning. Delia Jones is a hard working woman who uses her faith in God to guide and protect her from her husband's relentless physical and emotional abuse. From the very beginning, Delia represents diligence in work, humbleness, and saintly virtue. This protagonist is depicted as physically feeble yet spiritually strong. Diametrically opposite to Delia's character is her husband Sykes. Sykes Jones seems to oppose Delia in his every word and action. He is physically abusive toward his wife, non-virtuous in that he is adulterous, and he takes advantage of Delia's hard work by spending the money that she makes on his lover. While Sykes is physically strong and has no virtue or faith in God, Delia's strength lies in her religion and humble tolerance of her husband which proves, in the end, prevalent over his brute strength and abusive attitude. Certain objects and situations in the story suggest the influence of religion. The white clothes Delia washes in the story are symbolic of her character. White represents her virtue and saintly tendencies as she humbly tolerates Sykes' torment. The religious association of snakes and evil is prevalent in two instances in this story. Sykes at one point uses a whip to scare Delia by rubbing it on her and making her think it was a snake. Also, later in the story, Sykes places a real snake just outside the door of their house for the sole purpose of scaring Delia. These two examples could be seen as a biblical allusion as in the story of Adam and Eve when Satan took the form of a snake. The symbolism of snakes in "Sweat" subtly and cleverly illustrates Sykes as being an evil antagonist character. The pattern of good vs.

Komeo and Ouliet act 1 scene 5 evaluation Essay

Act 1 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet takes place in the house of lord and lady Capulet during the preparations for the Juliet’s engagement party and during the party its self. It is where Romeo and Juliet first meet before they realise who each other are and after they find out about each other. It is the basis of the whole play it is where Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love with each other, it is where tybalt develops a grudge for Romeo â€Å"I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet convent to bitter gall† this quote shows that he will not take any action for now but will do something later on. Shakespeare uses this party as a backdrop to what is arguably one of the most important scenes in the play because there it creates a atmosphere of tension and love, all the major events that happen later in the play can be traced back to this moment from Romeos banishment to Juliet drinking the poison to both of there deaths. This scene begins with the servants running around in a panic trying to get ready for the up coming party they are also in a panic because they cannot find potpan who is another servant â€Å"where’s potpan that he helps not to take away† this quote shows that they are very frustrated with the preparations for the party this is further reinforced by there constant use of short sentences and blunt orders e. g. â€Å"Away with the joint stools, remove the court cupboard†. Parties were traditionally used as settings for important events in many dramas at the time Shakespeare was writing Romeo and Juliet and as such the audience would be anticipating an exciting or important event so the scene would be set for the star-crossed lovers to meet. As Lord Capulet and Juliet enters the room Shakespeare changes the focus from the servants to Lord Capulet welcoming his guests it is at this point that the audience is beginning that something pivotal is about to happen. He is in a very jovial mood wanting people to dance with him â€Å"Ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns will have a bout about you, which of you will now deny a dance†. The audience is now expecting something important to happen because there are many actors on a very busy stage all dressed in extravagant costumes. After Capulet is done welcoming his guests the viewpoint switches to Romeo as he starts talking to one of the serving men asking about Juliet, This is a point of immense dramatic irony as Romeo begins to fall in love with Juliet before he even knows who she is and that she is the daughter of his family’s greatest enemy and the audience begins to get an ominous feeling as they know that this love can only end in tragedy, In his soliloquy Romeo uses many forms of imagery to describe Juliet such as â€Å"snowy dove trooping with crows† the snowy dove indicates beauty and grace where as the crows mean ugliness so the quote implies that Juliet is the one drop of beauty in a cloud of ugliness and also â€Å"she doth teach the torches to burn bright† it shows that compared to everything else she shines out like a star against the blackness of space And â€Å"And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand† means that until he touched her hand he was dirty and ugly but since he touched her hand he has felt blessed and clean. The above quotes show that his love for Juliet is true love and will never be extinguished and not just a passing lust as was his love for Rosaline, which was more of a circumstancuial lust. When Tybalt hears Romeos voice he is immediately angered to the point in which he wants to kill him â€Å"This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy† and â€Å"to strike him dead I hold it not a sin† it means that he finds it ok and not sinful to kill Romeo because he is doing in for his family’s honour and so it would be ok in the eyes of god. The audience will now start to get worried about Romeos safety and would be concerned about for the future of him and Juliet But as Lord Capulet hears him storming about Romeo he ask what is a matter â€Å"why how now kinsman wherefore storm you so? † Tybalt then tells him that Romeo is at the party â€Å"uncle this is a Montague, our foe a villain that is hither come in spite to scorn at our solemnity this night† but then Capulet tell him that he doesn’t want his party ruined by violence and to let him stay â€Å"let him alone he bares him a portly gentleman† and â€Å"he shall be endured what, Goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to, am I the master here or you? † this last quote is more of a threat not to ruin the party and to leave him be than an order to leave him alone. When he accepts his uncle’s wishes he says â€Å"I will withdraw but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet convent to bitter gall† this implies that he will let Romeo go for now but sooner or later there conflict will have to come to violence. It is now that Shakespeare switches again to the viewpoint of Romeo as he starts talking to Juliet it is at this point that the audience know that they are both about to fall in love but as Juliet talk they do not yet know that they are both from enemy family’s and that there love will never be allowed, but as Romeo proclaims his love for Juliet â€Å"if I profane with my unworthiness hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is my lips, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss† it is from this point on that the audience know that the two are destined to be lovers but that they are both doomed to death. It is at this point that the nurse comes and takes Juliet away telling her that her mother needs a word with her â€Å"madam, your mother craves a word with you it is here that the nurse informs Juliet that Romeo is a Montague â€Å"his name is Romeo, and a Montague the only son of your great enemy† the audience may now begin to understand the future complications that may arise as there true identities are brought into the light such as the problem of the nurse having to go with Juliet to all her meetings thus making it impossible to do anything in secret. The party comes to an end as all the guests begin to leave Lord Capulet is disappointed that the guests are leaving â€Å"Nay gentlemen, prepare not to be gone we have a trifling foolish banquet towards† but he is still in good sprits after the party even after his argument with Tybalt â€Å"I thank you honest gentlemen; goodnight, more torches here come on lets to bed† it is here that all the other characters exit the stage leaving only Juliet and the nurse onstage with the audience expecting the climax of the scene when Juliet discovers who Romeo really is Shakespeare. Makes use of dramatic irony very well in this scene leaving it until the very end of the scene to divulge the information to Juliet as she finds out of his true identity â€Å"his name is Romeo he is a Montague the only son of your great enemy† she uses several oxymoron’s to get her shock and heart ache across to the audience â€Å"my only love sprung from my true hate† if she truly hated him how could she ever love him? â€Å"To early seen unknown and known too late† meaning if she had know who he was from the start she may never of fallen in love with him but now she has fallen in love it doesn’t matter who he is, this dramatic end shows that she loves him so much and that he loves her that they will do anything to be together even if it means upsetting there families or leading to her eventual death as it eventually does. This scene is central to the rest of the play because without this scene they would never of met and every major event in the play depends on them meeting such as when he climbs under her balcony and stating the immortal words. â€Å"Romeo, Romeo, where fort art thou Romeo† to the wedding through to Romeos exile and to both of there eventual deaths. In my opinion this scene makes very good use of dramatic irony using in perpetuity throughout the scene.