World Religion And Thoughts

HUM 2633: Analects Reading Assignment:

Source is located at: http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.1.1.html

These questions will help direct students to the most salient elements in the assignment. Because the text is lengthy, for ease of operations I am only assigning reading questions for Section 1 of the Analects. Students are encouraged to read the remaining three sections of the text (see http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.html). Summaries of these sections can be completed for extra credit and students are welcome to reference the text in its entirety in their papers. Students should review the questions carefully before they attempt the reading and keep them out while completing the reading. The questions proceed in order with the text. Students should complete question sets using this document. Use the SAVE AS command and rename to mark the file as yours (LASTNAMEHUM2633AnalectsQuestions) before submission. Insert answers in spaces after questions. Students should try to answer each question in their own words. They should also locate and include a passage from the text that substantiates their answer. Primary texts are hard reading, and one only gets better at it with practice. It is important to push yourself and work at it. You DO NOT need to understand all of it, even half of it!!!!! I don’t expect that. If you get 10% initially that’s normal. You are not alone. Stick with it! We are just trying to see how the main theories and concepts we discussed are expressed in the original texts of the tradition. Nothing improves your reading comprehension like reading difficult material and as you acclimate to the different style and vocabulary, you will find it gets easier. ☺

Reading #7: Confucius, Analects (Section 1)

Part I:

1. What does the text suggest is the root of benevolence?

2. What things are identified as two first principles?

3. What is filial piety (and give a passage that reflects the text’s concern with it)?

4. Should following the standards of filial piety appear forced?

5. What things can bring shame upon a person?

Part 2:

6. Why is a good leader likened to the North Star?

7. It is asserted that the teachings of the Book of Poetry can be summed up in one phrase. What is it?

8. Does the text suggest it is adequate to simply have individuals conform to laws because they want to avoid punishment?

9. At what age does the text seem to suggest it is easier to embody goodness (ren)?

10. When it comes from filial piety what distinguishes the obedience of a good horse from a good child?

11. What shows our goodness and obedience to principles, what we say or what we do?

12. What is true of the superior person?

13. What is true of learning without thought and thought without learning?

14. What does admitting ignorance have to do with knowledge?

15. What does the following passage mean and how might we relate it to contemporary issues? “Advance the upright and set aside the crooked, then the people will submit. Advance the crooked and set aside the upright, then the people will not submit."

16. What are the traits of a good leader?

17. What does it mean to liken truth to a harness in a carriage?

18. What does one lack if one knows what is right but doesn’t do it?

Part 3:

19. What is it in the comments that Confucius offers about what is best in grieving at a funeral ceremony that makes it clear he is not merely concerned with the performance of particular rites or rituals?

20. Why does Confucius say we should sacrifice to the dead as if they were present? What impact does this have?

21. Does the text suggest everyone has to do the same thing to achieve the same level of propriety and be good?

22. What recommendation does the text offer with regards to things that are done or past?

Part 4:

23. What is true of those without virtue and those with it?

24. What does this passage suggest about the nature of what is right and the person who knows it? “The superior [person] does not set his or [her] mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow.”

25. What is true about people who always seek their own advantage?

26. What is the difference between the superior man (person) and the mean man (person)?

Part 5:

27. Can a superior person still ask assistance from and learn from subordinates?

Part 6:

28. Is the practice of the Constant Mean rare or common among people? What do you think the mean means?