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Confucius: The Secular As Sacred
Purchase options and add-ons
- ISBN-101577660102
- ISBN-13978-1577660101
- PublisherWaveland Pr Inc
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 1998
- LanguageEnglish
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.25 x 8.5 inches
- Print length84 pages
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Editorial Reviews
Review
". . . this wonderful little . . . book has become a modern classic of Confucian interpretation." -- John M. Koller, Oriental Philosophies
"Confucius is one of the most significant philosophical books on the subject to be published in a long time." -- Henry J. Rosemont, Jr., Philosophy East and West
"In the fifty years in which I have been studying Confucius, I cannot recall that I have found the work of another scholar more stimulating than that of Professor Fingarette." -- Herrlee G. Creel, Journal of the American Academy of Religion
"With superb faithfulness to the text, Fingarette discerns the deepest meaning of the thought of Confucius and, paradoxically, its application to our own time. This is another beautiful book from one of our most perceptive thinkers." -- Robert N. Bellah
From the Publisher
Product details
- Publisher : Waveland Pr Inc (January 1, 1998)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 84 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1577660102
- ISBN-13 : 978-1577660101
- Item Weight : 4.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.25 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,438,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #105 in Confucianism (Books)
- #8,515 in Eastern Philosophy (Books)
- #52,137 in Schools & Teaching (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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According to Fingarette, Confucius believed that the characteristics of humans which make us different from animals have an almost magical quality. This quality is most pronounced as it relates to li which is a term similar to holy ritual or sacred ceremony. Li involves respect of others and sublime patterns of behavior for mourning, marrying, fighting, and being a prince, a father, a son and so on. Professor Fingarette describes li as something that captures the essence of what makes us human, and the deep response that li provokes only occurs if the custom or ritual evolved from earlier traditions, it cannot be legislated or mandated: "He who by reanimating the Old can gain knowledge of the New is indeed fit to be called a teacher." New conditions always require that traditions be reanimated, and a successful government, Confucius insists, takes advantage of traditions which raise the civilized above the barbaric: "govern the people by regulations, keep order among them by punishments, and they will evade shamelessly. Govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual, and there will be not only shame but correctness." Li makes difficult tasks simple and brings order to chaos: "With correct comportment no commands are necessary, yet affairs proceed."
Fingarette writes that our body of culture makes possible behavior which is distinct from acting on our instincts, or from treating others as animals or objects. The enabling hinge upon which culture rests is li which depends on learned and accepted conventions. These conventions, if they are not to become stale, require an openness and a sharing which leads to more dynamic interrelations and to a heightened community that does not rely on force, threats and commands. Confucius himself made possible a universalistic civilization by expounding on the perfection of the "ancients" whom he always referred to in the most favorable light. The authentic reanimation of tradition, Fingarette writes, is the source of human dignity:
"To be devoted to one's parents is far more than to keep the parents alive physically. To serve and eat in the proper way, with the proper respect and appreciation, in the proper setting - this is to transform the mere nourishment into the human ceremony of dining. ... The shapes of human relationships are not imposed on man, not physically inevitable, not an instinct or reflex. They are rites learned and voluntarily participated in... To `be self-disciplined and ever turning to li' is to be no longer at the mercy of animal needs and demoralizing passion, it is to achieve that freedom in which the human spirit flowers."
Fingarette's main argument is that rituals (li) played a central role in Confucius's thinking not only because of their social significance but also because of their religious or spiritual significance. In fact, Fingarette goes on to argue that the social significance derives from the religious significance. I generally agree that this is indeed one of Confucius's most important teachings, and that it is under-appreciated or misinterpreted in modern scholarship. I also agree with Fingarette's view that Confucius saw human civilization as a perfect embodiment of the Way if it is united under the central symbol of holy ceremony.
As Fingarette neatly points out, modern Western thought has gravitated towards a utilitarian view of responsibility, which is in stark contrast to Confucius's view of responsibility as personal commitment. Fingarette, to his credit, avoids framing the discussion around individual and society. For Confucius, the ethical life is largely a problem of personal commitment (or will) rather than a problem of decision. It is a pity that Fingarette did not develop the notion of committed self-cultivation further. I would recommend Confucian Moral Cultivation by P J Ivanhoe for readers interested in this important theme.
Now some of the flaws:
- Fingarette takes J L Austin's notion performative utterance too far.
- Fingarette stubbornly resists the inward dimension of certain important concepts such as ren (jen).
- Chapter 4 is weak due to his inadequate understanding of Chinese history.
Nonetheless, Fingarette's book is refreshing despite its flaws because it helps the reader to cut through modern bias and appreciate the original Confucius. It is not an introductory book on Confucius ad Confucianism, but certainly not a book that a serious student of Confucius or Confucianism can ignore.
For, me, disappointing. But if you want a book where the favorite line seems to be 'Confucius Said' this is it.