User:Daniel Wascoe

Hello everybody I'm Daniel Carr Wascoe (He/Him/his). I am a student at UNCA.

Gentleman- The gentleman can be defined in many different ways. The most common description is "a man of talent and virtue" p. 33, Analects, Chichung Huang. Another definition is pertaining to an Emperor or a man of power in the state. Sometimes gentleman refers to Master Kong or Confucius himself. (p 33, Analects, Chichung Huang). The Instruction of Amenemope describes the "ideal man" as someone who is humble and modest. He is quiet and kind and self controlled. (p 146 Teaching of Amenemope) For the most part, Amenemope admonishes the actions and behaviors that would be considered ungentlemanly. In Epictetus’s Handbook, the stoic man is the ideal. Refusing to be controlled by desire, but to live by logic and not to be disappointed by the events in your life. When Plato wrote about a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, in Euthyphro, Five Dialogues, he was describing the concept of piety as being a gentlemanly trait. In Plato's Apology, he describes Socrates' attempt to defend himself in front of the jury. During Socrates plea he refers to the members of the jury multiple times as gentleman. He also uses the term pious as the expected quality for a gentleman.

My own definition of a gentleman is someone who is gentle to others, is respectable and good. I do not believe that following rituals is required to be a gentleman. It makes sense when a man of power is called a gentleman because the Chinese word for gentleman means son of a king. Confucius himself embodies the more common definition of a gentleman.

The concept of gentleman is relevant in today's America centric society because everyone in American thinks of themselves as a gentleman. People in other parts of the world also think that they are important because of America's influence. America's culture has been imprinted of the rest of the world as it was the only country to have a thriving economy at the end of WWII. The USA embodied the idea of freedom and liberty for all, giving everyone the ability to strive to become a gentleman. In other cultures, such as the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan was the ruling gentleman holding all the power while peasants had no hope or expectation of reaching this status.

In Confucius' ancient world view ritual is extremely important to becoming a gentleman. This is not necessarily the case in today's society. Today a gentleman does not have to follow rituals, but instead may observe proper etiquette. An example of proper etiquette would be the behavior of a British gentleman. Scientist follow scientific methods not ritual and are generally considered to be gentleman. The politicians of today even use the terminology in session when they say "I recognize the gentleman from North Carolina" in spite of the fact that many people would not consider politicians as being examples of virtue. Using the word gentleman to describe someone may be a bit dated, but it does indicates a level of respect for the person being referred to.

America as well as China during the time of Confucius both allow anyone to aspire to gain power and become a gentleman. You do not have to be born into a specific class to gain gentlemanly status. In both the social and political realms being elevated to a gentleman position can occur now in America and in Confucius' time. People can become educated and escape poverty like Abraham Lincoln. Andrew Jackson was a common man but became President.

Common man of virtue:

Analects 15.18 - The Master said: "A gentleman considers righteousness his major principle: he practices it in accordance with the rituals, utters it in modest terms, and fulfills it with truthfulness. A gentleman indeed!"

Confucius respected the aspect of rituals. He believed if we did not follow rituals that we would lose lessons from the past. He thought that practicing rituals was the only true way to gain understanding.

Analects 15.19 - The Master said: "The gentleman worries about his incapability; he does not worry about men not knowing him."

The gentleman does not worry that men in high positions do not know him.

Analects 15.20 - The Master said: "What the gentleman worries about is that, to the end of his life, his name should remain uncommended."

The gentleman does however worry that at the end of his life people will not have good things to say about him.

Analects 15.21 - The Master said: "The gentleman seeks it in himself; the small man seeks it in others."

The gentleman does not blame others for his failures, but instead examines himself.

Analects 15.22 - The Master said: "The gentleman is self esteeming but not contentious, gregarious but not factious."

The gentleman has self worth and is not dependent on others praise,

Analects 15.23 - The Master said: "The gentleman does not recommend a man on account of his sayings; he does not reject a man's sayings on account of the man."

Just because someone is of lower status does not mean that you should not take heed of what they say.

Analects 6.18 - The Master said: "When simplicity surpasses refinement, one is a rustic; when refinement surpasses simplicity, one is a scribe. Only when refinement and simplicity are well blended can one become a gentleman."

Simplicity means basic goodness of heart, while refinement means following rituals. A gentleman is a mixture of both, he must follow the rituals and be good hearted.

Amenemope said to listen to his words. "If you make your life with these in your heart. You will find it a success: You will find my words a storehouse for life, Your being will prosper upon earth." (p149 Amenemope)

He feels that if you follow his teaching and take them to heart you will live a long and prosperous life.

Amenemope - "Set your goodness before people, Then you are greeted by all. You will be loved by others. You will find you place in the house of god" (p153 Amenemope)

If you have been a good person in life and you have been a good example, others will be more likely to respect and love you. You will also be received by the gods with open arms.

Anenemope - " Beware of robbing a wretch, Of attacking a cripple; Don't stretch out your hand to touch an old man, Nor open your mouth to an elder." (p150 Amenemope)

The listing of do nots continues throughout Amenemope's instructions. In this example he is saying that you should not mishandle the weak and unfortunate.

Anenemope - Better is poverty in the hand of the god, Than wealth in the storehouse; Better is bread with a happy heart Than wealth with vexation." (p152 Amenemope)

Being poor and happy is better than living rich while constantly being frustrated and worried.

Epictetus - "Do not seek to have events happen as you want them to, but instead want them to happen as they do happen, and your life will go well" (p 13 Epictetus' s Handbook)

If you refrain from focusing on desires and the things that you want to achieve, then you will avoid being disappointed when they are not obtained. It is advised to maintain an attitude of contentment, being happy where you are and with what you have.

Epictetus - "If hardship come to you, you will find endurance. If it is abuse, you will find patience. And if you become used to this, you will not be carried away by appearances." (p 14 Epictetus's handbook)

Experiencing hardship will allow you to become stronger, so it should not be considered bad but a process and a natural part of life.

Epictetus - "If it ever happens that you turn outward to want to please another person, certainly you have lost your plan of life. Be content.." (p 17, Epictetus's Handbook)

If you spend your time trying to please other people you may loose your own path.

Euthyphro - "I say that the pious is to do what I am doing now, to prosecute the wrongdoer, be it about murder or temple robbery or anything else, whether the wrongdoer is your father or your mother or anyone else" (p 9, Five Dialogues, Plato)

A gentleman would always prosecute someone who breaks the law, even if it was a family member.

Euthyphro - "what is dear to the gods is pious" (p11, Five Dialogues, Plato)

In the past, the only way to become a gentleman was to be pious.

Euthyphro - " An action or a man dear to the gods is pious, but an action or a man hated by the gods is impious." (p 11, Five Dialogues, Plato)

The gods are the controllers of the world, so to slight them is impious and therefore ungentlemanly.

Apology - "gentlemen of the jury" (p  24, 25, 27, 28, 29...44, Five Dialogues, Plato)

Socrates addressed the members of the jury as gentlemen over and over during his appeal to strengthen his relation with the jurors and emphasize the he is a gentleman as well.

Apology - "Do not deem it right for me, gentleman of the jury, that I should act towards you in a way that I do not consider to be good or just or pious" (p 39, Five Dialogues, Plato)

Socrates seems to be saying that he thinks that the jury should only expect and allow him to behave in a pious or gentlemanly manner.

Apology - "keep this one truth in mind, that a good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death, and that his affairs are not neglected by the gods." (p 44, Five Dialogues, Plato)

Socrates believes that a good man or a gentleman will be protected by the gods during his life and beyond.

Emperor or man of power:

Analects 18.10 - The Duke of Zhou said to the Duke of Lu: "The gentleman does not neglect his kin or give his great ministers cause to complain that their advices are not adopted. His old acquaintances, except for major offenses, he does not abandon. He does not demand perfection in one man."

In the past, prior to the time of Confucius, gentleman only referred to a Prince. This specific analects is talking about a prince or person of power, not a common person of great virtue.

Analects 19.10 - Zi-xia said: " The gentleman must be trusted before making the people toil. If he is not trusted, they will consider themselves tyrannized. He must be trusted before remonstrating. If he is not trusted, the sovereign will consider himself slandered."

Those in power must be trusted and respected by their subordinates.

Confucius, the gentleman:

Analects 19.9 - The gentleman has three changes: when gazed at, he looks awesome: when approached, he is gentle; when listened to, he sounds austere."

Confucius is described as being awesome in appearance, gentle in nature but with a strict ritualistic manner.