Doing What You Really Want : An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mengzi

For more than two thousand years, the writings of the Confucian philosopher Mengzi have been a source of guidance and inspiration for those set on doing something to improve the state of the world. In Doing What You Really Want , Franklin Perkins presents a coherent, systematic, and accessible explanation of Mengzi's philosophy. He covers everything from the place of human beings in nature, to human psychology and philosophy of emotions, to the various ways in which we can deliberately change and cultivate ourselves. Mengzi was concerned not just with theory but also effective action. Perkins thus includes a collection of practical advice and a Confucian analysis of politics oriented toward how individuals can make a difference in the world. These topics are integrated around Mengzi's philosophy as a way of life dedicated to changing the world, providing an alternative approach for understanding the contemporary relevance of Confucianism. Mengzi offers theoretical and practical resources valuable for anyone concerned with integrating efforts to improve the world with personal fulfillment and a sense of belonging. Rather than giving an overview, this is a focused work of philosophy that delves deeply into the most relevant themes of Mengzi's thought. The core philosophical system is drawn from Mengzi, but the book regularly incorporates other Confucian materials, making this volume a useful introduction to Confucian thought. "The Eskayan language of Bohol in the southern Philippines has been an object of controversy ever since it came to light in the early 1980s. Written in an unusual script Eskayan bears no obvious similarity to any known language of the Philippines, a fact that has prompted speculation that it was either displaced from afar, fossilized from the deep past, or invented as an elaborate hoax. This book investigates the history of Eskayan through a systematic review of its writing system, grammar and lexicon, and carefully evaluates written and oral narratives provided by its contemporary speakers. The linguistic analysis largely supports the traditional view that Eskayan was the deliberate creation of a legendary ancestor by the name of Pinay. The study traces the identity of Pinay through the turbulent history of early 20th-century Bohol when the island suffered a series of catastrophes at the hands of the United States occupation. It was at this time that the ancestor Pinay was channelled by Mariano Datahan, a multilingual prophet who foretold that English and other languages would be abandoned and that Eskayan would one day be spoken by everyone in the world. To make sense of this situation, the book draws on theorizations of postcolonial resistance, language ideology, mimesis, and the utopian political dynamics of highland societies. In so doing, it offers a linguistic and ethnographic history of Eskayan and of the ideologies and historical circumstances that motivated its creation"-- Provided by publisher "This book is a coherent, systematic, and plausible explanation of the philosophy of Mengzi (Mencius), a 4th century BCE Confucian. It covers the full range of Mengzi's philosophy, from the place of human beings in nature, to human psychology and philosophy of emotions, to the various ways in which we can deliberately change and cultivate ourselves. Since Mengzi was concerned not just with theory but also effective action, the book includes a chapter gathering practical advice and a Confucian analysis of how individuals can make a difference in the world, offering a new approach to understanding the contemporary relevance of Confucianism. These topics are integrated around Mengzi's philosophy as a way of life directed toward striving to make the world a better place. Mengzi offers theoretical and practical resources valuable for anyone concerned with integrating efforts to improve the world with personal fulfillment and a sense of belonging. Mengzi's philosophy is explained in a clear and engaging way that is suitable for students and general readers with no background in philosophy or Chinese studies. The core philosophical system is drawn from Mengzi, but the book regularly includes other Confucian materials"-- Provided by publisher This book is a coherent, systematic, and plausible explanation of the philosophy of Mengzi (Mencius), a fourth-century BCE Confucian. It covers the full range of Mengzi’s philosophy, from the place of human beings in nature, to human psychology and philosophy of emotions, to the various ways in which we can deliberately change and cultivate ourselves. Since Mengzi was concerned not just with theory but also with effective action, the book includes a chapter gathering practical advice and a Confucian analysis of how individuals can make a difference in the world, offering a new approach to understanding the contemporary relevance of Confucianism. These topics are integrated around Mengzi’s philosophy as a way of life directed toward striving to make the world a better place. Mengzi offers theoretical and practical resources valuable for anyone concerned with integrating efforts to improve the world with personal fulfillment and a sense of belonging. Mengzi’s philosophy is explained in a clear and engaging way that is suitable for students and general readers with no background in philosophy or Chinese studies. The core philosophical system is drawn from Mengzi, but the book regularly includes other Confucian materials. For more than 2000 years, the writings of the Confucian philosopher Mengzi have been a source of guidance and inspiration for those set on doing something to improve the state of the world. This book is a coherent, systematic, and accessible explanation of his philosophy, covering everything from the place of human beings in nature, to human psychology and emotions, to the ways in which we can deliberately change and cultivate ourselves, including practical advice. The writing is clear and engaging, accessible to students and general readers with no background in philosophy or Chinese studies Cover 1 Doing What You Really Want 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Abbreviated References 10 Introduction: Why Confucianism? 12 1. Harmony with Nature 26 2. What People Really Want 61 3. Emotions and Enjoying Life 90 4. Cultivating Feelings 120 5. Learning 147 6. Ritual, Music, and Embodied Emotions 173 7. Temptations, Excuses, and Putting Ideas into Practice 194 8. Power, Politics, and Action 221 Notes 254 Bibliography 264 Index of Passages 270 Index 274