On Virtue: Comparing the Views of Confucius and Aristotle

On Virtue: Comparing the Views of Confucius and Aristotle


Ancient philosophers of both East and West were concerned with the importance and the role of virtue in the life of a human being and were proposing different definitions of virtuousness according to own observations, philosophy, moral values and beliefs (Jiyuan 323). Aristotle and Confucius can be considered representatives of two philosophical teachings about virtue.

At some points Aristotle's understanding and interpretation of virtue is similar to Confucian's views, yet there are certain differences. Western attitude is more self oriented and Confucius discussed virtue as having a direct connection with interpersonal relationships, attitudes, and social behavior. Both philosophers realized and stressed the importance of virtue in human's life and realize virtue as a path to happy and worthy life (Jiyuan 325).

Aristotle discussed and philosophized upon virtue from the perspective of ancient Greek citizen. Even though Western traditional understanding of virtue dates back to Plato's writings, yet Aristotle was the one who devoted the whole work Nicomachean Ethics and studied deeply the meaning and the purpose of virtue, therefore he can be considered the father of Western virtue ethics (Kenny 28).

Confucius is considered a thinker who was focused on the morality and ethics and therefore he can be considered a representative of non-Western virtue ethics. The term "jen" which Confucius uses in his Analects is often interpreted as benevolence or virtue (Chong 298). In fact there exists an etymological parallel between "arete" and "jen". The term "virtue" is coming from the Latin word "vir", which is literally as "manhood". Term "virtue" is used to translate Greek word "arete". The word "jen" is also translated by many scholars as "manhood" (Jiyuan 323). Therefore this is logical to discuss the writings of Confucius and Aristotle with understanding that both "arete" and "jen" are different terms that have the same meaning and modern translation of both terms can be "virtue".

The first and the most important distinction between Confucius's and Aristotle's virtue lies in their definitions of what means being virtuous. Aristotle said: "The virtue of a human being will likewise be the state that makes a human being good and makes him perform his function well" (1106a23-24). This definition discusses the excellence of human beings through learning to perform their function to the best of their abilities. Aristotle in his Nicomachean Ethics focuses on the person's constant self improvement which can finally lead to eudemonia, or happiness through the exercise of virtues. Even though Nicomachean Ethics discuss some aspects of social interactions, yet Aristotle does not emphasize interpersonal relationships in his work. He rather focuses on self improvement as a mean to reach the greatest happiness a€“ eudemonia. Even though Aristotelian virtues are sometimes meant to perform actions which will benefit society, yet they all have the primary goal of exercising virtue and reaching eudemonia, which is a self-oriented pleasure. The definition of "jen" is not so monosemantic as the meaning of "arete", yet one of the definitions Confucius gave to jen is "to love all men" (XII.22). This definition which Confucius gave to his disciples stresses the importance of virtue in interpersonal relationship within society. This is also important that such definition has no regard to citizenship or race in practicing love to all the mankind. This is another difference with Aristotle's writings where virtues are clearly defined as certain character qualities like courage, wisdom, prudence, etc., and there is a hint that if other people are hurt while you are practicing these virtues this is yet right to do so. Such characteristic as magnificence which Aristotle claim to be an important virtue (Aristotle IV:2) is connected with the necessity to treat oneself better than others in one or another way. This goes in contrast with Confuciusa€™ notion of treating others like oneself (XV.23) and importance of wishing to establish others once you wish to establish yourself (VI.28).

The purposes for practicing virtue are also different in these two philosophies. Aristotle claims that eudemonia is the greatest thing that a person might achieve and practicing virtues is a way to achieve eudemonia. This is also important factor that eudemonia can not be reached by the means of virtue itself. Other factors like health and fortune are necessary according to Aristotle (I:9). Confucius' approach is that virtue must be practiced for the sake of virtue only. He said: "The determined scholar and the man of virtue will not seek to live at the expense of humanity. They will even sacrifice their lives to preserve their humanity" (XV.8). This means that virtue or jen is what makes life worth living according to Confucius.

The big similarity in the philosophies of Aristotle and Confucius upon virtue is that both of them do not provide exact rules to follow while performing certain actions. They do not teach precise things to do or not do, but rather explain principles based on which person should be able to determine the virtuous course of action. In Nicomachean Ethics virtue is not a mean to perform good actions, but is rather a mean to become excellent. This work focuses on defining the right course of thinking which will help choosing actions appropriate to a man, who chooses to practice virtues discussed in Aristotle's teachings. The same rule is workable in Confucius' writings. All the actions according to Confucius can be defined with the rule of reciprocy or self-analogy, when this is necessary to treat others and do to others what you want others to do to you and do not do what you dona€™t want to be done to yourself (XV.23). In both philosophies virtue is a way of thinking, a course of thinking which if being followed leads to proper decision to be made and a right course of action to be taken.

The difference here is in what philosophers consider the right course of thinking. Aristotle proposes the set of virtues both moral and intellectual and Confucius has a simpler explanation such as loving all men and self-analogy principle (XV.23, XII.22). This way Confucius' understanding of virtue is simpler but is probably harder to fulfill as simplicity of his definition makes it also vaguer, while Aristotle is more precise in his definition of qualities that virtuous man must possess, therefore providing more precise instructions for self-perfection. Aristotle describes perfect virtue as a set of moral and intellectual virtues such as courage, temperance, liberality, magnificence, pride, gentleness, agreeableness, truthfulness, wittiness, justice, wisdom, magnanimity, amiability, sincerity, wit, and modesty (1103a and 1119b).

Aristotle claims that virtues can be obtained through constant performance of virtuous actions. This way courage can be obtained through performing courageous acts whenever this is applicable (1106a). In Confucius writings even though jen is believed to be possible to obtain, yet he does not explain how this is possible to do.

Both philosophers agree that virtue should be an ultimate guide to human actions and is necessary to lead self-fulfilling and happy life, yet they disagree upon certain issues like the purpose of being virtuous and what can be considered a virtuous act. This is natural that Western and Eastern philosophies express different beliefs and have slightly different moral values, yet this is magnificent that Aristotle and Confucius had often same attitudes and many points of intersection in their philosophies.









References
Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. USA: Focus Publishin/R. Pullins Company, 2002.
Chong, Kim-Chong. "The Practice of Jen", Philosophy East and West, 49 (1999), p.298.
Confucius. Confucian Analects, USA: Dover Publications, 2004.
Kenny, Anthony. Aristotle on the Perfect Life. Claredon Press, 1992.
Yu, Jiyuan. "Virtue: Confucius and Aristotle" Philosophy East & West. Volume: 48 (1998), p.323.
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Posted by: Natalie Saturday