The Interpretation Of Propriety,Benevolence And Learning In The Analects

Despite the fact that there are many important concepts in the Analects,this thesis selects only three concepts of "Propriety""Benevolence" and"Learning",as the author finds that they have one thing in common in the shaping of human."Propriety" is the outer normative constraints,“Benevolence" is the inner mental discipline,and"Learning" is the act of specific practice.For the detailed discussion of their influence upon the shaping of human,the thesis treats them as a mechanism,that is,"Propriety"and "Benevolence" as self-consciousness,"Learning" as transformation,and their common result as connotation endowment.Self-consciousness is the understanding and verification of the meaning and value of "Propriety" and "Benevolence"."Propriety"not only refers to rites,regulations,order and system,but also means a kind of spirit and value reference.Generally speaking,it is humanistic education or culture in nature."Benevolence" is the state of inner mind and will.For the reason that neither"Propriety" nor "Benevolence" is sheer logical thinking,the individual has to endow them with experiential content,and have a grasp of them in the long-lasting and repetitive life practice concerning ethics,politics,religion,etc."Learning" is indeed the explicit summary of this process,namely,the process of human transformation,enabling the individual to transform from the natural state to the humanistic or moral state.The result of human transformation is both internally and externally.The internal aspect includes human nature,morality,value,the expansion of the spiritual world and the development of the ideal life attitude.The external aspect refers to the propriety in sight and hearing,language and behavior,and human as the polite being.Meanwhile,the individuals of this kind make up the ideal group society.This is the so-called connotation endowment.It must be pointed out that there is no linear development between self-consciousness,transformation and connotation endowment.Rather,they are in the dual state of synchronic and diachronic development.