Homework 9/16

1. No, I do not think Confuscionism is a religion. In the first and second chapters, there is no mention of a supernatural power, or reverence to any god. There is an absence of any prayer. Confucious does not teach people about the afterlife, or a Judgement Day. Instead, he tells about how to live every day and be a good, virtuous person. Therefore, I think Confucionism is a philosophy to live by but not quite a religion. 

2. This reading supports the idea that people are born neutral. Confucious says, "“If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good" (Book II, CHAP. III., line 2). This indicates that they must be taught "rules of propriety" in order to become good via the sense of shame. Confucious implies that if people are not led by virtue, people will lack this fundamental sense of shame, and will be bad. Therefore, if people must be guided one way or the other, they must be born neutral. They would not need to be led by virtue if everyone was born good, but they would need a lot more than "virtue" to keep them in order if everyone was born bad. The Master also says, in order to cause the people to be faithful to their ruler, "“Let him advance the good and teach the incompetent;-- then

they will eagerly seek to be virtuous" (Book II, CHAP. XX., line 1). Confucious states that if people are taught to be more intelligent and resourceful, this will make them also be more righteous. People would not be "eagerly seeking" to be virtuous if they were born pure and saintly already. Instead, the gain of intelligence leads to the gain of higher moral values, implying that virtue is indirectly bestowed upon the people through education. Lastly, the Master insists that "“Man is born for

uprightness" (Book VI, CHAP. XVII., line 1), with uprightness being honest and just. However, he does not specifically state that man is born into uprightness. Just because it may be the purpose of man to become righteous and good, does not mean man automatically becomes righteous and good. He is born neutral, and therefore must follow the teachings of Confucious in order to achieve this uprightness that he was born for.