A Study of Happiness in the Analects and Mencius
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Tsai, Shih-Wei
Abstract
A Study of Happiness in the Analects and Menciusbstracthis thesis has three chapters. Chapter One concerns yue (樂) as music, the second discusses le (樂) as happiness, and the last one examines how le (樂) can have implications for ethics and aesthetics.hapter One has five sections. In section one, I discuss the meaning of “fulfillment in playing music”(成於樂), focusing on the relationship of “fulfillment”(成) and music (樂). Then, I discuss “harmony”(和) as the main impact of music. According to this conception of the spirit of music, I view “ren”(仁) from the ground of music; it’s deeper meaning may lie implicit in “the theory of blood and qi”(血氣論). The last section discusses the problem of will (志)-qi (氣) in Mencius. examine le (樂) as happiness in Chapter Two, in two sections. In section one, I use Mencius’ “the three main happinesses of the superior man “(君子三樂) as the framework; Section two discusses “happiness” in the Analects. In the first section, I elaborate on the social and historical ground of happiness. The ground of happiness is found in “leisure” and the tradition of witch (巫). As a foundation reference confirming my view is the interpretation history of, “I give my approval to Dian”(吾與點也) in the Analects. In the section two, I discuss the context of yue and le (樂) in the Analects, building on cues from the discussion in Chapter One. hapter Three divides into three sections. The first one concerns the construction and position of le and yue (樂) in aesthetics, in light of professor Fu’s article and Kant’s aesthetics. Section two focuses on ethics. I use Aristotle’s eudaimonia as a foil to le (樂), as both form core concepts in the respective systems of ethics. Section three concludes the thesis.ey Words: le (樂); yue (樂); the Analects; the Mencius; music; happiness; witch(巫); leisure; aesthetics; eudaimonia
Subjects
le (樂)
yue (樂)
the Analects
the Mencius
music
happiness
witch(巫)
leisure
aesthetics
eudaimonia
Type
thesis
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