Confucius Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Confucius - Essay Example However, he seemed to have not achieved that because of the corruption that governed the lives of the rulers at the time. He would travel for some years out of his home town of Lu in search of the perfect ‘gentleman’, his ideal man who embodies a cultivated moral character. He failed miserably in this aspect, because he could not find anybody who came close to the gentleman. In contrast, however, the ‘small man’, a man who is not morally cultivated and who is greedy and corrupt, he found everywhere, and inasmuch as this was disheartening to him, he continued in search of his ideal man, by way of education. The moral values that Confucius espoused he was able to spread by educating young minds. He placed such a high premium on the value of education, and this is perhaps the most important contribution that Confucius made to our society, aside from showing them how society should be governed and is required for this to be achieved. He left a legacy of how to lead a moral life, and he showed, by example, how through hard work one can lead a morally cultivated life by following the steps that he prescribed in his book The Analects. Book One opens with words from the Master himself, Confucius, saying something about cultivation of virtue and acquisition of knowledge, and how the pursuit of these would give a person satisfaction and fulfillment. Book One is not arranged in any coherent order, but rather is a compilation of words by Confucius and by his prominent disciples. One of the most important things discussed here is the integration of filial love and how this translates into outer relationships. Confucius contends that if a gentleman has respect and love for his parents and brothers, it is difficult for him to defy his superiors and be involved in a rebellion. He refers to the Way as the guiding principle by which all men must live. There must be alignment between filial piety and brotherly obedience. He further prescribes how a

US HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

US HISTORY - Essay Example Schools including colleges for blacks and hospitals were built during the reconstruction era. Consequently, economic progress attained caused an improvement in the living standards of citizens. Besides economic outcomes, social reforms also formed part of the reconstruction era. Civil rights bill that advocated equal privileges among America citizens passed by the radical republicans, for example, ended black codes that encouraged forced slavery (Bodenhamer & Ely, 2008). The civil rights bill initiated freedom among citizens leading to the creation of social facilities in black communities such as schools, churches. It further encouraged self-leadership. Political reforms during the reconstruction era changed the governance system of the country. Reconstruction amendments such as the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments outlawed slavery, created framework of bringing southerners to the federal government and strengthened blacks civil rights. In July 9, 1865 for instance, the ratification of the fourteenth amendment ensured that the civil rights act created by radical republicans to fight for the equity of citizens remains valid (Nelson, 2009). Arguably, reconstruction era was a success in American history because of the various social, economic and political advancements attained. It created foundation for development and unity within federal States after civil war besides creating sanity to black rights. It also encouraged the creation of human rights movements such as women