1a. According to Confucius, how should a ruler act?
2a. According to Confucius, what saying best sums up all of his teaching?
3a. According to Confucius, what methods of government do not work? What should government be based on?
4a. According to Confucius, what should the relationship between a ruler and his subjects be like?
5a. Evaluate the applicability of Confucius's sayings to society today.
1b. Why can't a ruler act in any way he or she chooses?
2b. Why is this the most important precept of his teaching?
3b. Why is chastisement ineffective in governing people?
4b. What kind of a system of government does Confucius seem to promote?
5b. Does Duncan, as portrayed in Shakespeare's play Macbeth, meet Confucius's ideal of the perfect king? Explain. How does Macbeth fall short of the Confucian ideal? Both Macbeth and Doctor Faustus violate the moral order that Confucius espouses. What are the consequences of these violations?
Aim. With what aim(s) did Confucius share the lessons that were collected in The Analects? To what audience did he address his teachings?
Theme. Through his teaching as recorded in this selection, what theme does Confucius develop about the moral order of the universe? How did he believe this order could be expressed in society?
1. Write a rap that describes a young person's duties today, selecting precepts from Confucius that still seem relevant.
2. Write a code of conduct for employers and employees based on precepts from The Analects.
3. Read Portia's speech from act 4, scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice, which appears in the Selections for Additional Reading on page 479. Then write a paragraph explaining what Confucius would agree and disagree with in the speech.
Comparison-Contrast Essay. Research the philosophy of Mao Tse-tung, leader of the Chinese Communist Party during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Write down some of his quotes that illustrate his philosophy. Then select one or two topics and write a comparison-contrast essay comparing Confucius's precepts with those of Mao Tse-tung. Language Arts Survey sections 2.27 and 5.43 will be helpful for this assignment.
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