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Konincks 1
Diego Konincks
Professor T. Truffin
ENGL-205
March 19th, 2021

Augustine’s Confessions and Confucius Analects
For my final paper in World 1, I would like to explore the various philosophical thoughts of distinct cultures. A larger part of society is defined and propelled by the individual and social morality developed and expanded to the community members. Moral beauty has since been identified as an exceptional phenomenon critical to the functioning of social institutions. Morality is an aspect that creates peace among the people and, therefore, the ground foundation of civilization. In similar but distinct ways, St. Augustine and Confucius developed the confession and analects teachings that have, in significant ways, influenced the behavior of people across the globe both in ancient times and the world today. The two philosophical thoughts have comprehensively discussed the ethical values expectations in society. However, the two schools of thought are distinguished following different experiences and beliefs as the two philosophers lived in different environments. In such a way, these profound differences are attributed to the contributing factors that help shape the distinct cultures adopted and used in the west and east.
Confucianism’s philosophy is part of the Chinese belief system during ancient times, whose main focus was on the importance of individual ethics and morality. In his beliefs, the philosophy states that ancestor worship and human-centered virtues were adopted for community members to live a peaceful life (Olberding, 2013). Hence, Confucianism believed in transforming selfish leaders into unselfish people to serve as examples of love and unity, and in their influential position, turn wars into peace. Most importantly, the transformation of these leaders is to be done by aligning these leaders’ hearts and minds with the will of the heavens. On the other hand, St. Augustine provides his experiences in an autobiography, which are accompanied by religions explication or other philosophical explanations (Mushtaq, A. St. Augustine’s The Confessions). Confucius, on one hand, believed that the virtue and driving force in human is the truth of life, while Augustine, the truth and heart of all good human receive, comes from God.

Kim, Y. (2017). The politics of historical vision: Use of the past in the Analects. European Journal of Political Theory, 16(4), 392-410.

According to Kim (2017), Confucianism philosophical thought is essentially developed to guide how individuals embrace and perform their culture, refinement, and virtue. Individuals living in societies guided by Confucianism depict a strong character, because the philosophy is concerned about the good moral practices. In such a way, this dimension allows Confucius recognition as a vision of history following its multiple approaches and rich concept of morality. In this case, the world would enjoy the cosmic harmony. Most importantly, it has been used to challenge adopted but problematic assumptions that intend to block the study and understanding of Confucius’s beliefs. For instance, the early Zhou traditions sought to revive the past ritual practices, limiting the in-depth analysis of how they considerably bring harmony to society. In such a way, it is possible to recognize Confucianism in these ritual performances using agency and self-consciousness in determining their political identity. Conflicting thoughts about the ritual performances prompt members to stray and forget the ancient teachings of peace and love. By understanding the early Zhou practices based on Confucianism, leads to the development of human virtues yielding respect and humility towards individuals. As such, the ritual performance in Confucianism is only designed to promote a respectful attitude and develop a sense of community within the Zhou group.

Hong, J. C., Hwang, M. Y., & Tai, K. H. (2018). The Difference of Teachers’ Beliefs Related to Students’ Practice of Confucian Analects: A Comparison among Three Chinese Fujian Ethnic Regions. In Teacher Education in the 21st Century. IntechOpen.

Chinese societies are commonly characterized by the Confucian cultures mainly because this is where the culture originated. Dialogue communication between Confucius and the disciples are referred to as the Confucian Analects. These form the basic foundation of Confucianism philosophy. In China’s education social institutions, Confucianism’s practice has been integrated as a common cultural practice. This is because Confucianism was implemented as a state ideology in China by the emperor Wu Di. However, the study and application of the Confucianism dialect are different for different students based on political, economic, and social positions. In such a way, the cultural differences impact Chinese educators in viewing the students’ Confucian practices. Therefore, these prevailing conditions of Confucianism learning in the educational settings could be applied to facilitate student’s life fulfillment based on the Confucian philosophy. In different ways, the Chinese education system, through the Confucianism philosophy, promoted education for those who lived in poverty and underprivileged individuals in society.

Olberding, A. (2013). Confucius’ complaints and the analects’ account of the good life. Dao, 12(4), 417-440.

According to Olberding (2013) the philosophy Confucianism has through the Analects appeared to provide distinct evidence of the experiential qualities on how individuals should lead a virtuous life. The Analects suggestive purpose to provide a guide to readers and general public on the means to cultivate the inner moral human nature and consistently acquire valuable knowledge. These text records seemingly suggest that virtues hold more power to joyous life and protect people from sorrow. However, from Confucian experiences, the text develops some tension based on his complaints. Our understanding of good life helps explain how much an individual’s life is satisfying to them. In Confucian’s case, he was able to win a good life, given that he was able to include in his experiences how he felt. A good life is an everybody’s responsibility and role to fulfill their roles while they remain to be active community members.
Therefore, Confucian as a philosophy insists on the great role played by individual relationships with personal conceptions and esteem. This seeks to promote interconnectivity between members to define one’s characters other than an individualism society nature. Members are expected to in a great way cultivate on increased wisdom, benevolence and righteousness. Such strong character provides for the Confucian etiquette that aimed at providing different forms of moral training so that readers had an equal opportunity to perform moral work, inculcate appropriate dispositions of their cognitive and emotional abilities and provide a personal social perception.

Tornau, C. (2019). Saint Augustine.

Augustine has been recognized as a significant figure in Christianity based on his philosophy of Antiquity. He is an individual who impacted the religious system with the deepest and most influential thoughts (Tornau, 2019). Augustine was a follower of the Catholic Church, and his command in matter theology has been accepted in the East where Christianity did not exist. The west practices Christianity as a tradition, but this has been contested by the sin, freedom, grace and sexuality identification established in the western culture. This contradicts Augustine’s perspective on religion, especially based on his transformation from a worldly person to an individual transformed by his reconciliation with his Divide creator. In most cases, his autobiography has been used as a source of the philosophical traditions allowing pagan religion, social and cultural tradition practices to take place within the Christianity practice. As a result, the west’s contemporary cultural practices have shown little concern of meeting Augustine’s Christianity values for inner divine and reduced human autonomy and the secular world. Most importantly, the richness of his philosophical understanding has constantly fascinated and intrigued readers to appreciate the Divine creator’s presence.

Manning, L., Cassel, D., & Cassel, J. C. (2013). St. Augustine’s reflections on memory and time and the current concept of subjective time in mental time travel. Behavioral Sciences, 3(2), 232-243.

Manning, Cassel & Cassel (2013) find the significant need to reconstruct the past while society anticipates a better future. As such, it is important for people to travel and work in the mental time to develop a heart consciousness of the things that surround the human phenomenon. This is a necessary element that stands at the center of human cognition to reach out and understand subjective time. The contribution made by St. Augustine confessions in the past has created memorable information that is the most reliable and important meditations. It has completed an impervious move to chronological times so that the confessions remain to valuable source for many to reflect. These mediations prompt an individuals’ ability for self-continuity so that the perspectives allude to beneficial time in realizing that God guided Augustine on the things of the present using the stuff in the future. The purpose of confession was used to help defend his Christianity journey from criticism. He explained how the Christian faith arrived and highlighted the significant beliefs of a true Christian.

Augustine, S. (2013). The Confessions of Saint Augustine, by Saint Augustine. Gutenberg.org. Retrieved 19 March 2021, from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3296/3296-h/3296-h.htm.

According to Augustine (2013), Augustine was a philosopher most influential in the west who displayed his passion in the book confessions. In an autobiography format, the book described his journey at the beginning of his search for the truth. A truth he felt was connected with a higher power from what humanity provided. The book offered the phases of life through his culminations when he converted into a Christian. It includes Augustine’s infancy and early life as a child, especially when he was sent to study Latin literature. In his adulthood, Augustine is engaged in reading the Platonist books of philosophy, which deepened his understanding of Christianity and society’s evil nature. Augustine’s book of confession is an important opportunity for him to reflect on his life. In such a way, Augustine has depicted a profound philosophical spirit and an in-depth willingness to devotion. Thus, it is a book that allows Augustine to present to his Divine Creator the confession of his heart about the human nature to sin. Besides, it provides profound insights into the biblical doctrine, the general creation, divine nature, human nature, and the intended association between man and God. As such, Augustine is characterized as a thinker who delivered the truth about the spiritual journey in philosophy.

Zhou, X. (2020). An Analysis on the Culture Adaptability of Confucianism and Christianity. In Yearbook of Chinese Theology (pp. 172-184). Brill.

According to Zhou (2020), diffusion and detachment between Confucianism and Christianity are critical characteristics that define the cultural adaptability in the east and west societies. In such a way, the two philosophical thoughts have different formation processes. On one hand, the Confucianism philosophy requires the society to have its teachings diffused into the secular aspects of an individuals’ life. Confucian insists on the importance of education without distinction. On the other hand, Augustine’s Christianity philosophy suggests the significant way of Heaven concepts in a standardized form of practices. Therefore, Christianity’s philosophy allows for adjustment on missionary strategies based on time, culture, and religion.

Jiantao, R. E. N. (2010). A sense of awe: On the differences between Confucian thought and Christianity. Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 5(1), 111-133.

According to Jiantao (2010), both Confucian and Augustine philosophy includes the essential aspects of reverence, including ethical outlook and sincerity among community members. Confucianism’s thoughts on ethical practice should be based on self-consciousness as guided by a sense of reverence. As such, community members should develop ethical self-awareness, while Christian reverence sense should be established on the divine sense of worship. As such, the two philosophers held different views on self and truth. Confucius believed that the truth about life was having a heart filled with goodness, while Augustine believed that truth was the greater sense of worship to the Divine creator.

Doyle, G. W. (2017). 3 Lit-sen Chang (Zhang Lisheng), Strategy of Missions in the Orient. In Yearbook of Chinese Theology 2017 (pp. 31-50). Brill.

Doyle (2017) provides a Confucianism examination from the Christianity perspective. In such a way, it has developed a Christian understanding as a religious philosophy. For starters, Confucianism from a Christian perspective is not a religion mainly because Confucius did not identify his teachings like those of the ultimate truth like Augustine Confessions. Primarily, Confucius’s teachings were founded on establishing and shaping the character and life of the Chinese people. Therefore, Confucianism promotes the personal and social ethics system so that it was centered around humanity’s virtue.