The Useless Tree

Confucius/Confucianism

  • Query for Philosophy Friends

    Hey guys, what up with Analects 6.25? 子曰：“觚不觚，觚哉！觚哉！ I have long gone with translations like that of Ames and Rosemont: The Master said: "a gu ritual drinking vessel that is not a gu ritual drinking vessel – a gu indeed!… Continue reading

  • The Confucian Way of Derek Jeter

    The Master said: "Don't worry about not being recognized by others; worry about not having any reason for them to recognize you."  Analects 14.30 (Ames and Rosemont trans.) Derek Jeter, shortstop for the New York Yankees has long been derided… Continue reading

  • Kim Dae-jung, Confucian Democrat

    Former President of South Korea, and long time advocate for democracy there and throughout Asia, Kim Dae-jung, died today.  His was not the perfect political career but his persistent defense of democratization in Korea certainly stands out in world historical… Continue reading

  • Confucius in Africa

    While I was recuperating, the Asia Times ran a piece, "Confucianism at large in Africa," which considers the PRC's cultural diplomacy, via Confucius Institutes, in Africa.  I liked this paragraph on the possible effects of these efforts: To see clearly,… Continue reading

  • More on the Resurgence of Confucianism in China

    Over at China Beat, my friend, Daniel Bell, posts a brief report on a recent conference on "Traditional Values in a Modern Chinese Context: An Interdisciplinary Approach."  It illustrates the growing interest among contemporary Chinese academics in the meaning and… Continue reading

  • Chuang Tzu on the continuing AIG debacle

    Today we find this story in the NYT: Seeking to avoid the public furor that erupted last spring, the American International Group has been quietly seeking approval from the new federal compensation czar to pay a total of $2.4 million… Continue reading

  • Confucianism and Global Warming

    An article last week in the Christian Science Monitor caught my eye: "How Confucianism could curb global warming."  Two main points are put forward.  First, we have this: But Pan Yue, China's vice minister for environmental protection, is calling for… Continue reading

  • Against Killing

    An Asia Times article (h/t Western Confucian) looks into the revival of Confucianism in the PRC as a possible means of distracting attention away from the killings of June 3-4.  This sounds about right to me: Others say dressing its… Continue reading

  • Sonia Sotomayor: Confucian Gentlewoman

    Conservative critics of Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, are irrationally fulminating about her.  One of their many gripes is that Obama stated that he sought a person who would be able to empathize with the individuals involved in particular… Continue reading

  • Confucianism doesn’t make people sheep, Legalism does

    Interesting interview this morning on NPR.  Jiang Rong is the author of Wolf Totem, a book which seems to open itself to various interpretations.  I was taken by this comment of Jiang's from this morning's interview: "Confucianism wants people to… Continue reading