Plato Contrasted with Confucius Essay -- Compare Contrast Plato Confuc

Plato Contrasted with Confucius Since the early beginnings of society, in which great deal began living in gathered communities, there can be slangn a constant cash advance, upon a steady time line, of the increased order of the geological formation of society. However, this is non the kind of progress that was sought by two wide known philosophers and teachers, Plato and Confucius. The kind of social reform and alteration displayed in the teachings and books of both of these work force, examine a movement from societies viewed as chaotic and atrocious toward societies consisting of gentleman, practicing prescribed values, incorrupts, and actions. Confucius and Plato both emphasized a moral assume that went to a high-pitcheder place and beyond the soci onlyy accepted norms of their times. Despite the concentration on these factors in Chinese and Grecian cultures, the progress attempted by both of these philosophers was non achieved by their own standards indoors their ow n societies.There are some(prenominal) common themes running finished the primary work of compiled sayings attributed to Confucius emphasis on gentlemanly conduct, pursuit of humbleness among fellow man, and a search for a proper ruler who is in accordance with the Way. Running throughout the complete book of The Analects, Confucius makes reference to many characteristics that a gentleman should possess. veritable(a) beginning in the first chapter of Book One, Confucius is attributed with saying, Is it not gentlemanly not to take offence when others fail to appreciate your abilities? Other characteristics Confucius attributed to gentlemanly conduct include studying the rites and The Odes, humbleness, lack of desire for places of position, unbending in moral conduct, and many other factors. By laying out a undercoat upon which a gentleman should act, Confucius establishes a standard to broadsheet the quality of all men. Setting a standard implies that there are men preceding(p renominal) and below this set, desired point, and the word standard also indicates a measure of quantitative or qualitative value. By creating such a standard, Confucius is straight off able to begin causing social reform and progress. However, this progress, though achieved through concentration on social values, never reaches the capacity to which Confucius desires it to reach. Several sayings within The Analects indicate that Confucius is unable to see an accumulation of all desire... ...ty is tentative. It proves to savvy that a society guided by high morals willing have a progress. However, to assume that all corruption will be removed simply by placing leadership in office that adheres to the high standards fails to recognize the flaw in man that Plato and Confucius both obviously see man is in need of progress towards civil order. From the beginning, man is already viewed as degraded and morally corrupt. The society will progress because progression of society has been th e natural order since the beginning of civilization. It is the quality and moral stand of this progress that is in question. Using Platos method of progression, it can be seen that society is not progressing, but rather being led blindly down a road. Progression implies the acquisition of knowledge upon a consecutive path. Keeping men under order through ignorance, and elevating those with morally straightforward actions only serves to further isolate and expand the gap between the men possessing knowledge of civil order and those merely following it out of service to a defined path. A false sense of progress is created, enchantment the majority of society remains ignorant of why to be benignant and civil.