Provide a 5 pages analysis while answering the following question: A Concise Note on the Concepts of Ideal Societies. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is required. The concept of ideal society from a Confucian point of view is rather straightforward and simple. It is straight forward in the sense that it develops upon the older concepts of an ideal society as used to exist in ancient China even before the advent of Confucian philosophy. Confucius developed his thesis upon the concepts like heaven and hell, gods and goddesses, nobility, divinity, etc. Also, Confucius did not take the risk of altering the pre-existing social strata. Confucius preferred to say that he was not giving anything new. he was just conveying what already existed in the sphere of Chinese culture and legacy. But, Slingerland (35) notes, “Confucius felt anyone from any social class could potentially become a gentleman and that social status did not necessarily correspond to actual moral worth.” Of course, this is a humanistic approach where Confucius’s ideal society would be a place that would harbor the innate qualities of a human being irrespective of economical, political, ethical, or even ethical stereotypes. Confucius stated that in an ideal society, trustworthiness (誠信) is most necessary to foster mutual support and strengthen social relationships (Slingerland, 15).
A Confucian ideal society is not a Utopian concept and it is very much practicable because it neither relies on too much austerity nor necessitates lavish customs. According to Confucius, an appropriately generous person must give his needy peers the very right amount to fulfill their shortcomings – neither more nor less (Bonevac and Phillips, 40). Therefore, Confucius’s ideal society is based on dutiful and responsible behavior on the part of each and every member of the society, who will usher five major qualities of humanity: kindness, hard work, genuineness, generosity, and seriousness. All these virtues would culminate at Rén (仁). Western translators have interpreted Rén as the collective virtue of .humanness or goodness.
Mozi’s ideal society is based on some sort of societal awareness. To understand Mozi’s ideal society, one must keep in mind that Mozi was not born in a typical noble family. He was a skilled craftsman who was an expert in fortifications. Hence, the contemporary Chinese kingdoms (who used to remain engaged in almost regular warfare among them) needed technical experts like Mozi. So, Mozi managed to penetrate the aristocratic world of the local rulers and warlords. But, Mozi interpreted contemporary Chinese society from the point of view of a common Chinese man.
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