Research On The Content Of Confucius’ Moral Education

Confucius was a great thinker,educator and politician in ancient China,revered by later generations as "the Most Holy Teacher",and he systematically constructed a system of educational theories,of which the thought of moral education was its core.In recent years,the Party and the state have attached great importance to the inheritance and promotion of China’s excellent traditional culture.The Confucian doctrine founded by Confucius and the Confucianism developed on its basis have had a profound impact on Chinese civilization and are an important part of traditional Chinese culture.Studying Confucius thought is of great significance for understanding the basic spirit of Chinese culture and enhancing cultural confidence.Moral education is an objectively existing social practice both at home and abroad in ancient times.Studying the concrete content of Confucius’ moral education thoughts and absorbing the ancient wisdom of moral education have greatly enlightening significance for the theoretical research and practical work of modern ideological and political education.In addition to the introduction and conclusion,this paper is mainly divided into three parts:The first part displays the formation condition and basis for determining the content of Confucius moral education.This paper analyzes the formation conditions of Confucius’ moral education theory from three aspects: social background,theoretical source and subjective conditions.In the discipline of ideological and political education,moral education in a broad sense is synonymous with ideological and political education.Based on the theoretical basis of the content of ideological and political education and the research basis of the ancient theory of moral education,this paper makes it clear the content of Confucius moral education is based on certain social requirements and is aimed at the ideological reality of the educated.Confucius selected and designed ideas,moral norms as well as political views to be transmitted to the educated in a purposeful and step-by-step manner.The second part analyzes the main composition and basic characteristics of Confucius’ moral education.The ideological concepts,moral norms and political views in the content of Confucius’ moral education are mainly manifested in the theory of the Mandate of Heaven,the theory of Human Nature,the doctrine of Golden Mean,Benevolence,Propriety and Justice,the Gentleman-ship and Benevolent Rule.The theory of the Mandate of Heaven is the fundamental basis,and the mandate from heaven is the source of virtue and the legitimate basis of moral education;The theory of Human Nature is the theoretical basis,which demonstrates the possibility and necessity of moral education.The theory of Human Nature is Confucius’ summary of the physical and mental characteristics of the educated,and the understanding of human nature is the premise to carry out moral education.The doctrine of Golden Mean is the guiding principle,the highest morality,and also the methodology,which plays a guiding role in Confucius’ moral education thought.Benevolence is the core concept,"Benevolence is the characteristic element of humanity" and "Benevolent person always cares for others" are the requirements how to be a moral person;Propriety is the norm,and etiquette is the moral norm required by the ruling class.Righteousness is the moral norm for individuals to adapt to social life.The gentleman is an ideal personality.Confucius transformed and developed the connotation of a gentleman,injecting moral attributes into it and making it a personality image that covers many virtues.Therefore,the gentleman became the ideal personality pursued by people with lofty ideals.Benevolent Rule is the ultimate direction,which comes from the political morality in the mandate of heaven and ultimately serves the political domination.The content of Confucius’ moral education shows the basic characteristics of integrity and hierarchy,class and sociality,political and moral.The third part is the historical evaluation and contemporary enlightenment of Confucius’ moral education.The content of Confucius’ moral education is the theoretical origin of the mainstream ideology of ancient Chinese society,which plays a positive role in the development of society and the promotion of ancient moral education.The content of Confucius’ moral education not only has contemporary value,but also contains rich moral education resources.Also with historical limitations,is the feudal economic foundation produced ideas.At the same time,we can learn from Confucius’ experience in the selection,design and presentation of the content of moral education to provide enlightenment for the content of modern ideological and political education--good content of ideological and political education is the unity of times and truth,the content of ideological and political education should be determined according to the actual situation of the object of education,and the presentation of ideological and political education content should be combined with appropriate opportunities and methods.