The Great Learning, based on the interpretation of Wing-Tsit Chan, is a Confucian Classic with great importance, because its implications in education, moral and political programs, having as foundation three items: (i) manifesting the clear character of the man, (ii) loving the people, and (iii) abiding in the highest good.
The second foundation of the Great Learning is the compliance with the following eights steps: (i) the investigations of things, (ii) extension of knowledge, (iii) sincerity of the will, (iv) rectification of the mind, (v) cultivation of the personal life, (vi) regulation of the family, (vii) national order, and finally (viii) world peace.
Both the three items and eight steps have as principle the doctrine of humanity. According to Confucian teachings this humanity has two aspects: conscientiousness and altruism. But, the most important consideration is the translating of humanity in to actual living, maintaining the balance and harmony between individual and society.
It is important to highlight that the investigation of things is presented as the starting point for a moral and social life, which is consonant with the Confucian emphasis on learning. The investigation of things would be well-known as knowing root, which would be the root of the branches.
Concerning the extension of knowledge, which is also called the perfection of knowledge, consists in knowing the root. Where, if we wish to extend our knowledge to the utmost, we must investigate the principle of all things we come into contact with. Then the mind will be in its total substance and great functioning, and will be perfectly intelligence.
After it is gotten the investigation of things and the extension of knowledge, follow the sincerity of the will. Then a kind of superior man will always be watchful over himself when alone, contrary to a situation in which a inferior man, who would go in his evil deeds or would try to disguise himself. Thus, virtue makes a person shining and therefore, superior man makes his will sincere.
To get the cultivation of the personal life, first we need to be free for any necessary rectification of the mind. When someone is affected by any fear, fondness, worries or anxieties, the mind not will be corrected. We need this rectification of the mind, otherwise would be as look but do not see or listen but do not hear.
Once the cultivation of the life is gotten, it is possible to obtain a positive regulation of the family. In this point we can find the first connection between the individual and a important social group, which is the family. Men use to be partial toward those for whom they have affection, love, dislike, fear, compassion, it is said that people do not know the faults and not satisfy with the bigness of their sons. Therefore, if the personal life is not cultivated, nobody could regulate his family.
About the national order, it is necessary that one can teach his own family first in order to teach others. In the case of the ruler (who should be a superior man and follow “The Mandate of Heaven”), he without going beyond his family, can bring education into completion in the whole state. In strict terms, following what is said in “The Book of Odes”, when this ruler has rightly ordered his household can teach the people of the country.
In the case of the population in general, after the family is regulated, it is gotten brotherly respect, while one serves the elders and such as deep love is that with which one treats the multitude. Thus, when individual families have become humane, then the whole country will be aroused toward humanity. It is important to consider that when the rulers led world with humanity, the people follow them, otherwise, people do not follow them.
Finally, the world peace is brought by the ordering the state. For that it is important to highlight that the rulers of the states should never be careless. In the case that rulers deviate from the correct path, they will be cast away by the world. Thus, by having the support of the people, they have their countries, and by losing the support of the people, they lose their countries. Therefore, the rulers will first be watchful over his own virtue.
It is important to consider that all these eight steps belong to an approach of root and branches, where basically the two first point would be the root and the other the branches. It suggest that the investigation of things is the root of the approach. Another consideration would be that the root also is virtue, therefore the investigation of thing consist in virtue.
Although the present approach of root and branches suggest as that a man of humanity should develop his personality by means of his wealth, however in the current world, we can see the opposite, that kinds of inhumane person develops wealth at the sacrifice of his personality.
As conclusion, the principle that the investigation of things, not only is the root of the system, but means virtue, contrasts with our current superficial world, also with lack of sincerity.
Therefore, if people and society could take consciousness about the necessity of incorporation of this root of investigation of things in order to get the branches of sincerity and others, Confucianism would offer a great and sustainable solution for the main problems of the modern world.
In other terms, cultivated people (who would follow The Great Learning method), different to the current superficial people, assure a better world.
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