Confucius is a great philosopher hailed as the creator of a"thought paradigm"for humanity in the"axial age".Through exploring naturalistic theories of human nature,a historical philosophy of returning to origins,the doctrine of innate intelligence,a moral philosophy centered on"benevolence","propriety",and"music",a political philosophy guided by the doctrine of the mean,as well as metaphysical inquiries into education,and the metaphysical pursuit of"heaven","way","fate",and"principle",he established a generative philosophy of existence.This philosophy created a paradigm for how individuals and communities can live together and is unified by the knowledge of existence.The core of Confucius'knowledge of existence is the idea that individuals must seek knowledge and enlightenment as the driving force for creative living and use the doctrine of the mean as a guide for action.The key focus of Confucius knowledge of existence is the understanding of the possibilities,limitations,mechanisms,paths,and methods of knowledge-based enlightenment,starting with knowing fate,propriety,and speech.Confucius believed that"fate"originates from heaven,known as the heavenly way,determining individual life forms as fate,while social entities are subject to the regulations and functions of ritual propriety.Progressing from knowing fate to knowing propriety leads to understanding speech:the intelligent use of language is the fundamental prerequisite for acquiring wisdom and accurately discerning others.The theme of Confucius'knowledge of existence is"understanding people".Understanding people involves two pivotal aspects:knowing oneself and understanding others.Understanding oneself consists of contemplating what kind of person one should be how to address the disparities of life,and how to become a complete individual and maintain this integrity consistently.This demands individuals to reflect deeply upon themselves,prioritize self-examination in all matters,embody empathy and righteousness,engage in lifelong learning and continual self-improvement,and practice moderation and adherence to ceremony in daily life with a compassionate heart.Compassion forms the premise for becoming a complete individual,guided by the principle of"respecting oneself sincerely first,before earning the respect of others".Through these tenets,individuals can constantly learn,hear,observe actions,grasp motives and principles of others deeply.Only through determined efforts can one enhance self-awareness,understand others better,follow the doctrine of the mean,and strive for noble moral conduct.
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