To say someone is ren is to say

仁也者人也 To say someone is ren is to say he is a person. (Mencius, 7 B. 16) Analects, Book IV 1. The virtue of ren 2. The character of the junzi 3. The joys of “filiality” 1

Analects, Book IV 1 -7 8 9 10 -11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 -21 22 23 24 25 26 Confucius on ren Confucius on the Dao (the “Way” of Confucian teachings) Confucius on the values of a shi (gentleman) Confucius on the junzi Confucius on those who pursue profit Confucius on li and governance Confucius on seeking virtue before office Zeng Shen on loyalty and reciprocity Confucius on the junzi Confucius on taking others as models Confucius on filiality Confucius on prioritizing action over speech Confucius on self-constraint Confucius on prioritizing action over speech Confucius on virtue Ziyou on serving one’s ruler 2

“Bookend” start & close of Book IV 4. 1 The Master said, To settle in ren is the fairest course. If one chooses not to dwell amidst ren, whence will come knowledge? * * * * 4. 25 The Master said, Virtue is never alone; it always has neighbors. Theme: The character of the virtuous person 3

Book IV opening: the “Headline” 4. 1 The Master said, To settle in ren is the fairest course. If one chooses not to dwell amidst ren, whence will come knowledge? 4. 2 The Master said, Those who are not ren cannot long dwell in straitened circumstances, and cannot long dwell in joy. The ren person is at peace with ren. The wise person makes use of ren. What is ren? 4

Ren 仁 人 person + 二 two = 仁 “humanity”; “benevolence”; “goodness” Archaic usage: “Manly” 12. 2 Zhonggong asked about ren. The Master said, “. . Do not do to others what you would not wish done to you. ” Ren as the Golden Rule 5

Book IV opening: the “Headline” 4. 1 The Master said, To settle in ren is the fairest course. If one chooses not to dwell amidst ren, whence will come knowledge? 4. 2 The Master said, Those who are not ren cannot long dwell in straitened circumstances, and cannot long dwell in joy. The ren person is at peace with ren. The wise person makes use of ren. How does ren link up with “knowledge” / “wisdom”? 6

Goodness & Knowledge Plato: Confucius: Knowledge Goodness Knowledge Fact Value Fact Ren Knowledge The ren person || The wise person 7

4. 1 -2 “Dwelling” in ren 4. 3 -4 What the ren person loves & hates 4. 5 The Master said, Wealth and high rank are what people desire; if they are attained by not following the dao, do not dwell in them. Poverty and mean rank are what people hate; if they are attained by not following the dao, do not depart from them. If the junzi departs from ren, wherein is he worthy of the name? There is no interval so short that the junzi deviates from ren. Though rushing full tilt, it is there; though head over heels, it is there. What is a junzi? 8

The junzi 君子 Jun 君 “Ruler” + zi 子 “Son” Archaic meaning: “Son of a ruler” – “Prince” • Junzi as ideal: – Ethical issues cast as definition & attainment of this ideal • sometimes in terms of action choices • usually in terms of virtue/disposition descriptions • always tied to interest in holistic model • Model complex -- Confucius himself as picture – varieties of approaches (some better than others) : : Disciples 9

4. 5 The Master said, Wealth and high rank are what people desire; if they are attained by not following the dao, do not dwell in them. Poverty and mean rank are what people hate; if they are attained by not following the dao, do not depart from them. If one takes ren away from a junzi, wherein is he worthy of the name? There is no interval so short that the junzi deviates from ren. Though rushing full tilt, it is there; though head over heels, it is there. The junzi as an integrated ideal of altered intuitions – the Golden Rule actor. 10

The place of ren in the Confucian path Knowledge Ren Junzi 11

Changing value intuitions • 4. 10 The Master said, The junzi’s stance towards the world is this: there is nothing he insists on, nothing he refuses, he simply aligns himself beside right (yi). • 4. 11 The Master said, The junzi cherishes virtue (de), the small man cherishes land. The junzi cherishes the examples men set, the small man cherishes the bounty they bestow. • 4. 16 The Master said, The junzi comprehends according to right, the small man comprehends according to profit. Nurturing ren: “small man” junzi 12

How does this work? What, exactly is the content of ren? How can we become ren? How can we change our intuitions to the level of the junzi? How can we become true Golden Rule actors? Key passages: 12. 1 & 12. 2 13

12. 1 Yan Yuan asked about ren. The Master said, “Conquer yourself and return to li: that is ren. If a person could conquer himself and return to li for a single day, the world would respond to him with ren. Being ren proceeds from oneself, how could it come from others? ” Yan Yuan said, “May I ask for details of this? ” The Master said, “If it is not li, don't look at it; if it not li, don't listen to it; if it is not li, don't say it; if it is not li, don't do it. ” Yan Yuan said, “Although I am not quick, I ask to apply myself to this. ” 14

Ritual li 禮 The Zhou ceremonial “codebook” • • Basic components: Religious ritual Court rites and manners patrician etiquette the “patterns” (wen) of the ceremonial arts • • appropriate poetic recitation costume music dance

12. 2 Zhonggong asked about ren. The Master said, “When you go out your front gate, continue to treat each person as though receiving an honored guest. When directing the actions of subordinates, do so as though officiating at a great ritual sacrifice. “Do not do to others what you would not wish done to you. “Then there can be no complaint against you, in your state or in your household. ” Zhonggong said, “Although I am not quick, I ask to apply myself to this. ” 16

What’s wrong with this picture? The robotics of li. The freedom and joy of the robot.