Chapter 5 why am i optimistic

Ai: If it’s hard to answer, then don’t answer, right? (Liang laughs) For example, in your opinion, what is the current situation of Confucianism, Confucian traditions, and Confucian theories in China?Or can it be said that the current Chinese society can be regarded as a Confucian society, or what aspects? Liang: In China in recent decades, especially after Chairman Mao Zedong established a new regime in Beijing, of course everything has opened up a new situation.Although he couldn't escape the old influence of China, he seemed to look down on Confucius, so didn't he have the movement to criticize Confucius later?

Ai: The Confucian critique movement doesn't seem to have much to do with Confucius himself. From what we know in the United States, the critique of Lin and Confucianism is a movement used by the "Gang of Four" to criticize political opponents.This is the situation we in the West understand. Liang: But the criticism of Confucius was still spoken out.Chairman Mao is very talented, so he doesn't seem to care about anything, so he lacks the respect for old culture and old learning. In fact, he still can't escape this old culture. Ai: So the current Chinese society is a kind of Confucian society, so which Confucian ideas still remain in the hearts of Chinese people?

Liang: I don't think there are any reservations. It just doesn't say that old saying anymore, and it doesn't say that old lesson anymore.As a matter of fact, the family ethics in China have also changed quite a bit, and it is very different from that old society.Two facts can be cited for this difference. One fact is that women have come out. In the past, most women were in the family, rarely came out to work, and even less participated in politics. However, women also occupy positions in politics now. This is a change. .Another point is that in the past China was always a big family. When the father was there, the son and daughter-in-law lived with the father. The grandfather lives together and does not separate the family; if the family is separated, it seems to be a bit of a joke, as if it is not good.This kind of custom does not exist in foreign countries, so it does not exist in China now. It is a small family. There is no such thing as a large family living together, and the property is also public. There is no such situation.So there are many changes. The biggest change is that women have changed from family to society, and even to participate in politics. The biggest change is this.

Ai: But let’s not talk about that.Does the essence of Chinese culture, the core essence, still exist? Liang: There are still remnants. It cannot be said to be wiped out. There are still some remnants, and some are still left. Ai: Well, leave some... Liang: What remains is the aspect of family ethics. Ai: In the book "Essentials of Chinese Culture", you mentioned the definition of "Essentials of Chinese Culture", and you defined it as "the reason why people are human". Before all the minimum requirements were met, the Chinese sages understood "the reason why people are human", so you still think so, that is to say, the most important thing in Chinese culture is "the reason why people are human"?

Liang: From my point of view and understanding, this Chinese culture is different from the West and India. Where is it?Just because it recognizes human rationality.It believes in people, it doesn't believe in God, and it doesn't believe in a god like Islam.It trusts—the meaning of relying on and relying on. It trusts people. The characteristic of Confucianism is to trust people and not others.This is the "goodness of human nature" that Mencius pointed out later. Confucius did not say "humanity is good", but Mencius pointed it out. One of the characteristics of Confucianism is that it trusts people very much.Of course, people can make mistakes, and they may become obscene, but how can you correct it so that it does not become obscene or do evil?What do you rely on?In addition to relying on people, there is no other reliable.I think the characteristics of Confucianism are in this place.It seems that in foreign countries, in Christianity, it seems to say how did Adam eat what kind of fruit, there is such a saying?

Ai: Yes. Liang: There is such a saying. Ai: Yes, there is that saying, a chapter in the Bible has this story. Liang: This is in the West.In India it is also different from China.India is very strange. It has denied human life since ancient times, and it believes that human life is a mistake. This is a common trend in ancient India.Are there any exceptions?There is one exception, which is called "following the world" in the Buddhist scriptures-following the "world" of the world, "following the world"-Buddhists think it is a heretic, and many other religions other than Buddhism , also rejected it, also considered heretics, it is the unique affirmation of life in ancient India.Other than that, people think that life is a kind of delusion. This is the ancient fashion of India. It is very different from other places, which is very strange.

Ai: Judging from the current situation, what do you think is the biggest threat to Chinese culture? Liang: I don't see any threat. Ai: No threat? Liang: Although the old customs and habits have been somewhat disrupted recently, the future is not pessimistic.Didn't I have a book "Eastern and Eastern Cultures and Their Philosophy" 60 years ago?In the last chapter of that book, I said that the future of the world will be the revival of Chinese culture, so I happen to be not pessimistic. Ai: Then, Mr. Liang, do you still think that the world culture in the future is still...

Liang: Chinese cultural renaissance. Ai: Chinese culture... Liang: To revive. Ai: Revival, oh.Why do I ask?Because your book "Eastern and Eastern Cultures and Their Philosophy" has such predictions, but the books you wrote later seldom mention the future. What about the future? You just mentioned that these old customs and habits are gone. ... Liang: It was destroyed. Ai: So what must be preserved in traditional Chinese culture?what is it Liang: Of course we have to answer this question.I want to explain why I am so optimistic about the future. Ai: Good. Liang: In the past, I made an analysis very early on. This analysis said that there are three major problems in life.The first big question is the question of "human beings versus the natural world." This is the first question, and this is the first question.Before human beings had created culture and civilization, they were very oppressed by nature's floods, ferocious beasts, and earthquakes. That's why Western culture developed later.The development of Western culture is mainly based on two sentences, that is, "conquer nature and use nature". It adopts an attitude of conquering and utilizing nature towards the natural world, and it is very successful. It has been successful until now, and its success is getting more and more The higher the height, the higher he can run to the sky, circle the earth, and go to the moon (laughs).On this issue, he achieved great success and victory in conquering and utilizing nature.This is a characteristic of Western culture.As for this, I would say it is a matter of people versus things.As soon as people open their eyes, they see objects, and they are all objects. What people touch with their hands is also an object, and what they step on is also an object. Therefore, the question of people’s relationship with objects is the first question, the first question, while the Western Culture is the victory on this issue.Hasn't this problem reached a very high level by now?Going forward, going forward along this road, I think it is natural to enter socialism, and capitalism must turn into socialism.The so-called capitalism is an individual-centered doctrine, which can be said in eight words: "Personal-centered, self-centered", myself, self-centered. "Individual-oriented, self-centered", these eight words refer to the modern European and American society.But when it gets down to the end, it has to change, it has to change to socialism, socialism is inevitable, and capitalism has to become a thing of the past.This means that the means of production or means of production must be owned by the public. Now in name, they belong to individuals and big capitalists. But in fact, social production is already a social production, and it is inevitable that it will be transferred to socialism.It is inevitable that capitalism will turn into socialism.Then, the individual standard becomes the social standard, and the society is the standard.When it comes to the social standard, the problem of life is transferred to the second problem.Just now I said that the first problem is the problem of people versus nature, and the problem of people versus things, and the second problem is the problem of people versus people, that is, how can people get along well with each other and get along well with each other.To improve the relationship between people, you have to take care of me and I take care of you. The old Chinese saying is "comity", "comity is the country".All in all, people live in harmony with each other and get along very well. At this time, it becomes the first problem. The problem of people and nature takes a back seat.