英国留学生文学dissertation范文：Confucius and Plato's concept of the ideal order compare differences

Based on that time China region and the ancient Greek particular geographic economic patterns , historical and cultural traditions , social forms and other basic elements , this paper intends to Confucius and Plato's concept for differences in the order of comparison in order to show more clearly the system when the originator of Chinese and Western civilization Some differences in imprinting .
基于彼时神州地区与古希腊特别指定的地理经济形态、历史文化传统、社会形态形态等基本要素，本文拟对孔子与柏拉图的秩序观施行差别性比较，以期较为系统清楚地展出出文明发端时中西文化差别的某些印迹。

A mainland farming civilization and ocean commercial civilization : a different form of civilization in the West
一、大陆农耕文明与海洋商业文明：中西方不同的文明形态

For a long time , China region with ancient Greece in particular geographical environment with commercial farming were formed in two different economic patterns and presents different forms of civilization - continent and ocean commercial farming civilization civilized .
长时期以来，神州地区与古希腊在特别指定的地理背景下作别形成了农耕与经济活动两种不一样的经济形态，并闪现出不一样的文明方式——大陆农耕文明与海洋经济活动文明。

China regional land-based , relying on the land and the development of agriculture as its main economic patterns , farming civilization is the origin of Chinese civilization . Because of " Zhou is the development of agriculture and the powerful clan , they are recognized as the ancestor of the Saturnalia Houji from the King of 'the humble clothes that Kang Gongtian attack ', so that it was destroyed on account of trader while the world" , so after the West Zhou Jianguo agriculture is the foundation of our country . Since the fixity of land , a large number of farmers engaged in farming was firmly tied to the land, to the family as a unit in an area long survive, unless there is a major natural disaster or war , generally there is not much change in agriculture attribute determines the China people ideologically conservative , love, fate and properties. Accordingly, the China region formed a unique " family culture ", that Yoshimune law to clan kinship as the center to determine the closeness between people distant relative , showing a " differential pattern " of the social structure , ie enfeoffment this is reflected in the political culture . Ancient Greek Mediterranean coast to the peninsula , ocean -based, relying on the development of marine and commercial trade as its main economic form , it constitutes a commercial civilization origins of Western civilization . Residents living within the Greek polis was a businessman first , mainly engaged in maritime trade, large population movements , commercial property determines the Greeks thought adventure , intellect , respect for people's own strength characteristics . Compared with China region, " family culture " can be said of ancient Greece formed a " maritime culture", emphasis on individual rights , the pursuit of equality and freedom , the choice of regime is also designed to achieve the sound development of citizens and city justice, seem flexible . Plato is located in Athens, the ancient Greek classic maritime power , commerce and trade developed, and has the strength of its powerful navy Greek polis , created the most glorious moment in the history of Greece .

It can be said , that time in specific geographic Western economic and cultural characteristics directly affect the morphology of Confucius and Plato to build their ideal social order . Confucius said: "The wise find pleasure in water benevolent ; wise move, benevolent static ; wise music, benevolent life ," while Confucius and Plato just as one of the " benevolent " and " wise " in the different geo-economic context , each designed a different order patterns , suggesting the future development of Western thought and culture very different paths.

Second, the family and Reason : Confucius and Plato order that is the logical starting point

Confucius and Plato on different assumptions about human nature , were focused on the human " family sex" and " rational" two different aspects .
Confucian ideal order that is a " family " of a logical starting point. Ethics of Confucius as the blood of the most important innate human emotion, as the human nature , so particular attention of the family property , tend to put a man among the first to be considered. As Zhao Tingyang the " traditional Chinese sense, ' humanity ' and ' familial ' under ideal conditions it is considered to be the same. On Confucian tradition , the family is almost entirely constituted sufficient verification of human nature ." as filial , fraternal family ethics as the core content , Confucius also the root of filial piety as a personal accomplishment , and argued to be , by extension , " a gentleman's education to filial piety , while non- family to become increasingly also. teach filial piety , so the world of King fathers also. taught to Ti , so respect the world of man brother also. taught to minister, so the world of respect for the ruler who is also " the only way to achieve" within the four seas are brothers " , world still one of the " Harmony" realm. Therefore, Confucius is "home" to understand the social , national, and even the world, that the only good ethics training, harmonious family relations , the state will be stable and orderly , and the world will be peaceful. Plato's "Utopia " is a rational assumption of human nature as a logical starting point. Plato heavy rational, that the universe , countries, individuals are naturally been given a reason , "Utopia" which is based on the third soul ( intellect , passion , desire ) and its rationality assumptions layers build up . Plato believed that the souls of individuals only "reason for leadership , passion and desire not unanimously supported by its rebel leader ", the human mind will achieve rational and harmonious ; polis three class of citizens only " in the country in the implementation of a species most suitable for the duties of his nature , "and " Unless philosophers become kings of our countries , or we now call kings and rulers of those figures can seriously pursue wisdom, so that political power and wisdom together two as a " city-state will be achieved so that the rule of justice and reason ; Greek world is also true that only a good country to restrain harsh country , Greece will achieve rational and harmonious world . Thus, it can be said that support from the Platonic rational rational world building.

From the context of the development of Western political point of view, " family sex" and " rational" Western ideas and culture can be described as the base , about the Western political order, and cultural trends. Zhou , China is more and more political and ethical combination of roads , ethical politics to become the main features of ancient China ; compared to the West that focus on abstinence and ancient Greek rationality, light ethics, while后马基雅维利's " The Prince " is marks the western ethics and politics completely separated , the political reality becomes its main features. And this trend from Confucius and Plato order that is the logical starting point can be seen.

Third, xiuren through the ceremony and division / Legal : Confucius and Plato to maintain orderly way to run

"Benevolence" , "gift " as the essence of Confucianism , as a basic principle of philosophy throughout the Confucian order that is always. "Benevolence" as " gift" of the kernel and soul, "gift" as " benevolence" of the external institutional framework , the two complement each other, and jointly maintain the Confucian ideal of social order effectively. Benevolent, "love" , it is rooted in genetic ethics of love, their inherent weight of cultivation, respected people caring heart . "Benevolence" focused on the moral lessons of Confucius on the essence of personal conduct , morality issues for individuals righteousness . " Xiaodi also , its benevolence of the with ! " Confucius to honor their parents, respect for his brother as benevolence of the country, is also the root of life . "Disciples be filial , out of the Ti , honor and faith , the Pan- loving public , and benevolence ," to filial piety as the support , the whole society will be formed , " An old man 's friends believe it, at least those who conceived of the " state of harmony . "Ceremony" edge benevolence and love for , benevolence , Germany for the core, "man without benevolence, such as ritual what ? Person without kernels, such as music what ? " As the external institutional framework , "ceremony" is also rooted in the clan lineage, through normative acts to enhance inner cultivation, to promote moral internalization . "Learned in the text , some with propriety , they can carry on Dover Crescent husband ! " Wide learning culture classics , and only then to "gift " bound to , it will not deviant , the " graceless , not to stand it ." Confucius said: " Misinterpretation of benevolence . Kejifuli day , the world Nhon Yan" , the performance of "benevolence " and " ceremony" mutually supporting relationship , but also highlighted the " gift" of moral internalization . Regardless of the country , or the world, Confucius advocated both impose "gift" rule. Such " abide by benevolence ", " stand ceremony" , within xiuren , outside through the ceremony , "benevolence" , "ceremony" complement each other and promote each other , then the world has to carry natural cure .

Rational division of labor and the law were mid- and late Platonic concept of the core concept of order , sustains its "Utopia" the orderly operation . "Utopia" , Plato advocated the adoption of a rational division of labor to achieve personal , city , and even ordered the Greek world harmony : the soul -thirds to highlight the role of rational moderation ; polis three sectors of the orderly division of prominent philosophers rational governance ; division of labor between the city-state in the country to pay attention to good rational restraint . In short, the "Utopia" that is a rational division of labor based on natural endowments order. Late Plato divinity rational legal argumentation , began to focus on the legal rational governance in achieving effectiveness Polis , Polis toward prosperity and focus on exploring the laws of the road. Plato believed that peace should enact legislation to ensure that every citizen regular military training , regardless of rain and sunshine , " leave at least one day a month ( if the authorities consider appropriate , can more than one day ) used for military exercises " to develop recreation planning should include " war Games " and so on. However , Plato 's intention in the law limits that the law is the essence of " peace and goodwill among people ", so politicians "Only when he formulated his laws of war as an instrument of peace , rather than his legislation concerning peace become a tool of war , he became a real legislator . " thus, in the city late Plato rational governance into law, " an outstanding person could receive the truth , and with it a legal form to manage domestic affairs and relations with other countries , " more realistic and feasible.

Fourth, the " world" and " nation / state " : Confucius and Plato Order in epitaxial

Confucius and Plato Order in epitaxial also different: the Confucian "Harmony Society" covers everything between world regions and countries , is a world logic ; Platonic "Utopia" extension is limited to regional and city-states of ancient Greece , as " nation / state " ( polis ) logic.

Confucius concept of logical order as "Family → Country → world", there is always the country on a higher political unit - the world, "the world way" also comes down to its final point of order . In the Confucian view , the country is home to an extension of the "world " as the greatest home , is called cosmopolitan one . Zhao Tingyang that " China 's political philosophy to the world as the most senior political analysis unit , and the unit of analysis is also a priority , which means that the country's political issues from the political issues are to understand the world , and the world 's political problems the basis for the country's political problems . prioritization of political issues is the ' world - country - home' , "which in the Confucian Confucius, who is a founder evident . Confucius said: "There is a proper way, then the ritual conquest from the emperor out ; ...... World tactics , the government is not the doctor . World tactics , then the common people without discussion ," Confucius " world" view of the world , the ultimate pursuit is also a response to the patriarchal order, heaven, earth, everyone attributed proper way of the world order, there is a world of Consciousness tendencies. Therefore, " the world" constitutes the Confucian concept of epitaxial order .

Plato's "Utopia" is based on " personal → Polis → Greek world " as the framework to build up the layers , the order of the highest level is reached in the Greek world , with a strong Greek -centrism and nationalism . As the basic political unit of ancient Greek city-state has been the theme of Plato's thinking , the city-state of the rule of justice or reason is Pap end his life to solve the problem . The world is different from the doctrine of Confucius , Plato "nation / city " as the basic unit of looking at the world , whether it is the philosopher country , or city-state rule of law, are intended to explore the world under the Greek city-state of justice and national unity and peace in Greece . In handling relations with the outside world , but also with a strong ethnic Plato and civilization superiority of the Greek nation and Africa and Greece , as the nation 's divide-and- take attitude , as civilized as the Greeks , not the Greeks as barbarians , the enemy " Greeks and all relations between the Greeks are internal , and their own side ; relations between Greeks and barbarians belongs external, hostile ." Thus, Plato's Greek world order that is limited to the internal , not the world, including Africa and Greece , including the Greek nation / city constitutes a Platonic view of the extension order . Throughout Western history , countries often filled with serious ethnic / national consciousness tendencies, this concept from Plato order extension can be gleaned evident.

V. Conclusion

Located originator of human civilization , that time China region and the cultural development of ancient Greek spirit , and laid since the development of civilization and Western spiritual foundation . As Jaspers said, " As of today , mankind has been relying on the Axial Period ( 800 BC to 200 years ago ) arising from , thinking and creativity of all existence . Every time a new leap back on this period , and was it rekindled the flame and since then , the situation is like that. axis of the wake potential and the potential of the axis of memories , or say revival , always provide a spiritual power . " Confucius and Plato's order that is rooted in the West the unique material culture soil , it can show in the comparison of Chinese and Western thought and culture genetic differences . Dealings in the New West , we should face up to the inherent differences between each other , rational conduct discarded , to eliminate differences, avoid misunderstandings and conflicts, " and different" to achieve world harmony among civilizations .