Research Paper on "Long Tradition of East Asian Political Thought"

Research Paper 5 pages (1618 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Rulers who exploit the people are stripping away the potential of the people to reaching their highest potential. People who are starving will not have the ability to cultivate the best in human nature, because they are consumed by the need to feed themselves and their family (De Bary, 1999).

The corpus of East Asian philosophical writings present a conception of human nature that avows the importance of discipline, law, and order. Human nature is basically a neutral force. Even if Mencius believes that human nature has an innate moral character that would never permit a child to suffer, Mencius also believes that one's innate goodness can become corrupt when it is channeled improperly. Thus, even Mencius might note that a man can stray so far from his human nature that it becomes possible to walk away from the well. This would make the man lose his essential nature, and deny himself the possibility of flourishing as a human being. It is somewhat unnatural to allow human nature to be squandered in this way, which is why all of the Warring States era philosophers stress the relevance of discipline. There is a potency and power in human nature, and that power makes human beings uniquely capable of good things. Applying the concept of human nature to the political realm is the most pragmatic means of understanding the importance of personal discipline. The political leaders that refrain from killing others, that take care of their subjects and do not let them starve, and who treat other people with respect, are the most successful leaders because they maximize human potential.

References

de Bary, W.T., et al. 1999. Sources of Chinese Tradition. Vol I: From Earliest Times to 1600. Columbia University Press.

Elstein, D. (n.d.). Xunzi. Retrieved online: http://www.iep.utm.edu/xunzi/#SH3a

Lecture notes.

Richey, J. (n.d.). Mencius. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved… READ MORE

How to Reference "Long Tradition of East Asian Political Thought" Research Paper in a Bibliography

Related Research Papers:

Tradition Related to East Asian Political Thought Research Paper

In the philosophy of Confucians these matters of social conduct defined a fully evolved and proper civilization. The noble saints of yesteryears had taken the trouble through generations of hard… read more

Research Paper 8 pages (2694 words) Sources: 4 Topic: Philosophy / Logic / Reason

---

Footbinding the Chinese Idea of Footbinding Emerged Essay

Footbinding

The Chinese idea of footbinding emerged during the 10th century and lasted for approximately one millennium, until 1911. Young girls were generally targeted with the purpose of imposing this… read more

Essay 8 pages (2376 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Asian History / Asia

---

East Meets West: Oriental Influence on Western Dissertation

East Meets West: Oriental Influence on Western Fashion

Clothing is rarely recognized as a political force, yet fashion and design may be one of the most internationally regarded forms of… read more

Dissertation 21 pages (5765 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Fashion / Designers / Beauty

---

Best Export Strategy to Expand Highest Quality Table Wines to India Term Paper

Export Strategy

Expansion of Highest Quality Table Wines to India

India: Business, Economy and Trade Policy.

Many Indian businesses "Look East" toward ASEAN, the Association of South East Asian Nations.… read more

Term Paper 9 pages (3137 words) Sources: 20 Topic: Asian History / Asia

---

Post-Cold War Era, Far Term Paper

post-cold war era, far from making the "end of history" and the triumph of the western ideal, will be characterized by increased global fragmentation and the "clash of civilizations" based… read more

Term Paper 6 pages (2162 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Asian History / Asia

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>