Zhu Xi

[Matt Dillon]

Always remarkable to me that the western and Eastern philosophers were asking pretty much the same questions.

Remarkable the way the easterns were similar, yet not quite there..

[Matt Dillon]

Yes, vulgar insults. Why I had you on ignore.

At times I wish I had you on ignore. However, I don't gauge you as being relevant to my faith in humanity.

In no way can that be a bad thing.

I may insult you later, but not any more tonight.

[BidenPresident]

At times I wish I had you on ignore. However, I don't gauge you as being relevant to my faith in humanity.

In no way can that be a bad thing.

Maybe you're just a hate filled asshole. I think you are. Back to ignore.

[Matt Dillon]

Maybe you're just a hate filled asshole. I think you are. Back to ignore.

I just said I wouldn't insult you anymore tonight, and I'm sticking to it.

You don't make it easy, huh?

Ohh! It's after midnight now, girl! It's on!

[Cypress]

Always remarkable to me that the western and Eastern philosophers were asking pretty much the same questions.

This is how bad our western biases are.

I went to Wikipedia's entry on natural law, in which there is extensive discussion on the development of intellectual thought on natural law, from the Greeks, to the Romans, to the Christian scholastics, to the Enlightenment Age thinkers.

Not a single mention of Zhu Xi or any other Neo-Confucian scholar who were exactly on the same track with their concept of a universal morality embedded in the natural order, a concept they called Li.

[Iolo/Penderyn]

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,* who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

I can only say that you show no sign of this whatever. What you believe seems to be simple fascism, honestly.

[Matt Dillon]

I can only say that you show no sign of this whatever. What you believe seems to be simple fascism, honestly.

You don't even know what fascism is, it's just something you heard somebody called. Talk about unfounded assertions.

Define fascism, you 'tard.

[ThatOwlWoman]

I pretty much dig this Song Dynasty Neo-Confucian philosopher:



When you engage your mind in an investigation of things, knowledge is extended.

When knowledge is extended, your thinking becomes clear.

When your thinking becomes clear, you can rectify yourself; you can cultivate your own moral qualities.

When your moral qualities are cultivated, you will be able to properly order your family.

When your family is properly ordered, you will be able to govern your state well.

When you govern your state well, you will be able to bring order to the world.

Is the word "order" in this a correct translation? I do not like its connotation in English.

[ThatOwlWoman]

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,* who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

So you were also raised as a Lutheran. Do you still think of yourself as Christian?

[Cypress]

Is the word "order" in this a correct translation? I do not like its connotation in English.

Order in a Confucian context just means to have good and proper relationships.

That meaning is obviously fluid, and means something different in the year 2021 than it did in 1144. There was more heirarchy in relationships a thousand years ago

To me, once one strips away anachronistic thinking, the overall philosophy is as valid today as it was a thousand years ago

[Matt Dillon]

So you were also raised as a Lutheran. Do you still think of yourself as Christian?

How do you deduce that? (1st Nicene Creed that popped up)

I'm pretty much a non-churchgoer.

[ThatOwlWoman]

Order in a Confucian context just means to have good and proper relationships.

That meaning is obviously fluid, and means something different in the year 2021 than it did in 1144. There was more heirarchy in relationships a thousand years ago

To me, once one strips away anachronistic thinking, the overall philosophy is as valid today as it was a thousand years ago

So to sum up, he is basically saying to continue to learn, acquire knowledge and understanding, so that you can create serenity from chaos?

[Cypress]

So to sum up, he is basically saying to continue to learn, acquire knowledge and understanding, so that you can create serenity from chaos?

Well stated!

[ThatOwlWoman]

How do you deduce that? (1st Nicene Creed that popped up)

I'm pretty much a non-churchgoer.

I was raised as a Lutheran; we said that creed every dang Sunday in church, depending on the pastor. Otherwise it was the very similar Apostles Creed.

[ThatOwlWoman]

Well stated!

It's reminiscent of Jesus's admonition to remove the log from your own eye before you can see clearly to remove the speck from someone else's eye.