Is reflection the answer to the challenge of being a good person? According to Angle, no, for two distinct reasons. First, reflection on its own is misleading. Confucius said, “Study without reflection is a waste. Reflection without study is a danger.” Reflection is not an end in itself but part ...

3. Reflection

Confucians put a significant emphasis on the practice of reflection. In the Analects, reflection generally means to look within oneself and backward in time. Although the practice of reflection is not so much about the actions but rather the motivations underlying those action...

1. Rituals

At its core, Confucianism describes a way for humans to live together in the world, writes Stephen Angle in Growing Moral. One way to help us live in harmony with each other is through rituals. The Confucians’ idea of rituals could also be described as semi-scripted practices or ...

In the Socrates Express, Eric Weiner (a previous podcast guest) explains,

“Thousands of miles separated Confucius and Socrates, yet the two philosophers had a lot in common. Both men occupied precarious positions, admired by their disciples, and mistrusted by the elites. Both had an informa...

2. Reading

Wisdom traditions place great emphasis on the practice of reading. But very few of these traditions provide as much guidance as Confucianism. The Chinese philosopher Zhu Xi from the 12th century wrote,

“The books you read should be embodied in your person. I don’t know whet...