Could the Confucianism method "The Great Learning" solve the problems of the modern world?

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.

How important is Confucianism in the modern world

The Confucian philosophy has aspects which make it pro-progress and pro-tradition. Concerning the pro-tradition side, it is central highlight that the Confucianism has explicitly two important aspects, both which basically mean the idea of learning from the past. The first is that Confucianism establishes the importance to maintain traditional hopes and ideals. While, the second one is the recommendation of learning from past experiences.

Although Confucianism represents ancient models, keeping to quaint habits and so on, Confucianism had adapted to different times, so it means that the basic ideas of the model had been applied in different ways. Therefore, it obligate Confucianism to consider the changing of the world in order to make Confucianism work. Most time Confucianism had failed, but in the time when cases when it had been successful it would be negative, because the stability make impossible to consider changes about Confucianism system.

The rites is an important aspect of Confucianism. In the past they had been part of the Confucianism, clearly now it is impossible to consider rites as part of the modern world. The rites were very complex practiced inside the educated people world. It was desired to be practiced by no educated people in order to eliminate other practice such as vulgar customs and corruptions. However, there is a question if is it possible to get successfully adaptation of rites in modern world, the answer could be no. In this point, Confucianism become in a tradition model impossible to adapt.

Following some studies, we should note that Chinese culture Confucianism would have been buried. For some scholars it had been ended in the “May Fourth Movement”, and now it is only a subject of studies for moral philosophy and scholarship. Therefore, it is reasonable to affirm that the Confucianism had failed in its proposal of learning from the past, because in the modern world the development is growing so fast and its priority is looking for most progress not to review the past.

Concerning the Confucianism as pro progress it is important to consider a lot of contradictions in the modern world. Thus, in the industrial era we have a lot of problems, which are very dangerous for our survival, such as pollution, corruption, crimes, wars, and so on. It has been said in different ways, the problems of low morality and degradations of values.

Know the only space for Confucianism is basically inside philosophy studies and the academic world. While Confucianism has been excluded to that small space, the rest of the modern world is suffering for the lack of morality in any case for the asking for morality system, specially for people who are the most sensible to that lack of morality.

Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that the introduction of morality Confucianism could help us to solve a lot of this problem. We should remember that Confucianism has as one of its principle the goal of transformation of the world such as adaptation to the changing of times. Thus, probably we are ignoring one of the most potential “instrument” offered by Confucianism, which could help us to get a better world.