Download Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette

Download Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette

This Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette deals a fascinating topic. If you have not yet attempt reading this type of book, this is your time to begin and start it. Be the first title to read in this kind of topic provides the a lot more precious circumstance. You may be truly usual with this book, yet you have no concept to also read it, have you? To cover this problem, this given publication is offered in soft file to be offered saved in your beautiful device.

Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette

Download Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette

Just how if your day is begun by reading a book Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette Yet, it is in your gadget? Everyone will certainly constantly touch as well as us their gadget when getting up as well as in morning tasks. This is why, we suppose you to likewise review a publication Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette If you still puzzled how you can get guide for your gizmo, you could adhere to the method here. As here, we offer Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette in this site.

Now, we come to offer you the right catalogues of book to open up. Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette is just one of the literary work in this world in appropriate to be checking out product. That's not just this publication offers referral, however additionally it will certainly show you the incredible advantages of reviewing a book. Creating your many minds is needed; furthermore you are type of people with wonderful interest. So, guide is really proper for you.

One of inspiring reasons that you could opted to get this book is since this is very appropriate to the condition that you face now. The condition is not only for you that are not terrified to get brand-new point, for you that always really feel that you require brand-new resources to make better life. And this publication is really appropriate to review also in only short downtime. Yeah, with the soft file of Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette, you could take simple to continually read as well as read this publication once more.

Connected to this problem, you will certainly also figure out May books that can be sources for your life. It is not just this sort of topic; you may likewise discover others just as good as this book to serve. Certainly, what we provide is just what best in this world. So, you might not be worried to choose Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions Of The World), By Herbert Fingarette as one of inspiring analysis publication. Now, regardless of what to do, you have to get this publication and also get following the system to be much easier as well as quicker.

Review

". . . Confucius has revitalized all our thinking about the sage. . . . [it] opens up new prospects of understanding and learning from Confucius." -- A. C. Graham, Times Literary Supplement". . . this wonderful little . . . book has become a modern classic of Confucian interpretation." -- John M. Koller, Oriental Philosophies"Confucius is one of the most significant philosophical books on the subject to be published in a long time." -- Henry J. Rosemont, Jr., Philosophy East and West"In the fifty years in which I have been studying Confucius, I cannot recall that I have found the work of another scholar more stimulating than that of Professor Fingarette." -- Herrlee G. Creel, Journal of the American Academy of Religion"With superb faithfulness to the text, Fingarette discerns the deepest meaning of the thought of Confucius and, paradoxically, its application to our own time. This is another beautiful book from one of our most perceptive thinkers." -- Robert N. Bellah

Read more

From the Publisher

Title of related interest from Waveland Press: Overmyer, Religions of China: The World as a Living System (ISBN 9781577660002).

Read more

Product details

Series: Religious Traditions of the World

Paperback: 84 pages

Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc (June 1, 1998)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1577660102

ISBN-13: 978-1577660101

Product Dimensions:

5.5 x 0.2 x 8.5 inches

Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review:

4.3 out of 5 stars

12 customer reviews

Amazon Best Sellers Rank:

#541,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Don't be fooled by the nondescript academic looking cover. This is a book for any educated reader. If you have ever thumbed through the Analects by Confucius and wondered why he was by far the most influential thinker in China's history, this book provides the answer.According to Fingarette, Confucius believed that the characteristics of humans which make us different from animals have an almost magical quality. This quality is most pronounced as it relates to li which is a term similar to holy ritual or sacred ceremony. Li involves respect of others and sublime patterns of behavior for mourning, marrying, fighting, and being a prince, a father, a son and so on. Professor Fingarette describes li as something that captures the essence of what makes us human, and the deep response that li provokes only occurs if the custom or ritual evolved from earlier traditions, it cannot be legislated or mandated: "He who by reanimating the Old can gain knowledge of the New is indeed fit to be called a teacher." New conditions always require that traditions be reanimated, and a successful government, Confucius insists, takes advantage of traditions which raise the civilized above the barbaric: "govern the people by regulations, keep order among them by punishments, and they will evade shamelessly. Govern them by moral force, keep order among them by ritual, and there will be not only shame but correctness." Li makes difficult tasks simple and brings order to chaos: "With correct comportment no commands are necessary, yet affairs proceed."Fingarette writes that our body of culture makes possible behavior which is distinct from acting on our instincts, or from treating others as animals or objects. The enabling hinge upon which culture rests is li which depends on learned and accepted conventions. These conventions, if they are not to become stale, require an openness and a sharing which leads to more dynamic interrelations and to a heightened community that does not rely on force, threats and commands. Confucius himself made possible a universalistic civilization by expounding on the perfection of the "ancients" whom he always referred to in the most favorable light. The authentic reanimation of tradition, Fingarette writes, is the source of human dignity:"To be devoted to one's parents is far more than to keep the parents alive physically. To serve and eat in the proper way, with the proper respect and appreciation, in the proper setting - this is to transform the mere nourishment into the human ceremony of dining. ... The shapes of human relationships are not imposed on man, not physically inevitable, not an instinct or reflex. They are rites learned and voluntarily participated in... To `be self-disciplined and ever turning to li' is to be no longer at the mercy of animal needs and demoralizing passion, it is to achieve that freedom in which the human spirit flowers."

This book offers a unique perspective on the Confucian vision. As someone who has studied Confucius and Confucianism in Chinese for more than ten years, I believe that Fingarette has revealed an important aspect of the original vision of Confucius even though the book has some flaws. (That is why I have only awarded it four stars.) He is as careful with the text as he can be without being an Orientalist and without expertise in classical Chinese language. This is commendable.Fingarette's main argument is that rituals (li) played a central role in Confucius's thinking not only because of their social significance but also because of their religious or spiritual significance. In fact, Fingarette goes on to argue that the social significance derives from the religious significance. I generally agree that this is indeed one of Confucius's most important teachings, and that it is under-appreciated or misinterpreted in modern scholarship. I also agree with Fingarette's view that Confucius saw human civilization as a perfect embodiment of the Way if it is united under the central symbol of holy ceremony.As Fingarette neatly points out, modern Western thought has gravitated towards a utilitarian view of responsibility, which is in stark contrast to Confucius's view of responsibility as personal commitment. Fingarette, to his credit, avoids framing the discussion around individual and society. For Confucius, the ethical life is largely a problem of personal commitment (or will) rather than a problem of decision. It is a pity that Fingarette did not develop the notion of committed self-cultivation further. I would recommend Confucian Moral Cultivation by P J Ivanhoe for readers interested in this important theme.Now some of the flaws:- Fingarette takes J L Austin's notion performative utterance too far.- Fingarette stubbornly resists the inward dimension of certain important concepts such as ren (jen).- Chapter 4 is weak due to his inadequate understanding of Chinese history.Nonetheless, Fingarette's book is refreshing despite its flaws because it helps the reader to cut through modern bias and appreciate the original Confucius. It is not an introductory book on Confucius ad Confucianism, but certainly not a book that a serious student of Confucius or Confucianism can ignore.

I very much enjoyed the originality of this book. I don't agree with the author's major premise regarding the interpretation of one of the analects, but I found the originality refreshing. This should not be your first book on Confucius. But once you are comfortable in having some understanding of his teachings, at least enough understanding to recognize when Fingarette departs from orthodox interpretations, then you will greatly enjoy this book. I think it is a "must read" for serious students! If you are interested in a practical view of Confucianism, I recommend the book by Robert Canright: "Achieve Lasting Happiness, Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Life."

I was looking for an over view of Confucianism as a religion. This is not that book. After reading it, I felt that I had learned nothing of the practices, historic changes and developments that occurred within the religion over time. My memory might be incorrect, but I can recall not one mention of the neo-confucians and their beliefs. I would have liked an exposition of neo-confucian theology. Actually, I would have appreciated an exposition of the original confucian theology.For, me, disappointing. But if you want a book where the favorite line seems to be 'Confucius Said' this is it.

concise, well-written and constructed (as you would expect with Prof. Fingarette. He focusses on some subtle concepts of the Confucian Era - mostly about the concept of duty and responsibility. Dr. Fingarette is one of my favorite thinkers.

Loved the book. Got a good feel for the theories of Confucius. Quite a different philosophy, and times when his views were valued so much

A concise but considerably erudite essay by an acclaimed master!

the book arrived well in time and was conform my expectations

Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette PDF
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette EPub
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette Doc
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette iBooks
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette rtf
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette Mobipocket
Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette Kindle

Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette PDF

Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette PDF

Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette PDF

Confucius: The Secular As Sacred (Religious Traditions of the World), by Herbert Fingarette PDF