China’s Neo-Kinship SocietyOutlineAdapting to the loss of practical freedomThe world is in good orderIs Socrates a Model Stoic?Comparing Epictetus with SocratesStoic philosophy of empireAccept your role in lifeChina: SummaryTwo Approaches to SocietyConflict in China: Family or State?Legalism in the WestHistorical Expression of this ConflictDuration of Roman EmpireWhy did the Roman Empire fall?Empty Legality as a Cause of Fall?Long Duration of Chinese EmpiresUnderlying UnityBasic IssuesEgypt and China: What do they have in Common?PowerPoint PresentationContrast with MesopotamiaGeographical Origin: Not in the Flood PlainsGeographical Origins of First Chinese statesWhy first states in the cold north?Social Origins of First Chinese StatesPattern of growth of the stateNeo-Kinship SocietySharp class division under ShangBronze Age HierarchyChina’s Neo-Kinship Society1Outline•1) Epictetus: Roman philosophy of Empire (conclusion) •2) The Fall of the Roman Empire –Weakness of Roman law•3) China: The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of the Chinese Empire–Strength Confucian bureaucracy and its family-based philosophy2Adapting to the loss of practical freedom•Roman history and freedom–1) Struggle for practical freedom–2) Loss of practical freedom –3) Stoicism: we can still be (truly) free!•True freedom is controlling your mind•= Stoicism as philosophy of people who have lost their practical freedom to control their lives but still believe in freedom3The world is in good order•“In piety towards the gods, I would have you know, the chief element is this, to have right opinions about them, as existing and as administering the universe well and justly—and to have set yourself to obey them and to submit to everything that happens, and to follow it voluntarily, in the belief that it is being fulfilled by the highest intelligence.” #314Is Socrates a Model Stoic?•See Epictetus #53: –“Well, O Crito, if so it is pleasing to the gods, so let it be.” –“Anytus and Meletus can kill me, but they cannot hurt me.”•Was Socrates really a Stoic?–1) Did he teach that external material goods and the good of the body were not in our control?–2) Did he teach that our fate is determined by God? (recall NDE of Er) 5Comparing Epictetus with Socrates•Socrates: Is something good because the gods command it, •or do the gods command it because it is good? (Plato’s, Euthyphro)•Conclusion: we human beings can know what is good in itself•Epictetus: we human beings cannot know what is good (regarding external events). We should believe that the Gods know what they are doing, and accept events as they happen. 6Stoic philosophy of empire•Socrates: virtue does not come from wealth, but that wealth, and every other good thing which men have, whether in public, or in private, comes from virtue. •Stoic position: virtue is unrelated to wealth–Virtue (mind) is in our power not wealth (body)7Accept your role in life•Plato on the next life lottery: Who chooses your parents? •Epictetus: “Remember that you are an actor in a play, the character of which is determined by the Playwright; if He wishes the play to be short, it is short; if long, it is long; if He wishes you to play the part of a beggar, remember to act even this role adroitly; and so if your role be that of a cripple, an official, or a layman. For this is your business, to play admirably the role assigned you; but the selection of that role is Another’s.” # 178China: Summary•1) Two approaches in China’s history: Family-centered Confucianism and Legalism•2) Compare China to other civilizations–Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia•3) What questions do these comparisons create? –China’s long duration and its Confucian system•4) How explain this unique system?–Geographical origins of China–Social features of Chinese origins9Two Approaches to Society•“The Governor of She said to Confucius, ‘In our village there is a man nicknamed ‘Straight Body’. When his father stole a sheep, he gave evidence against him.’ Confucius answered, ‘In our village those who are straight are quite different. Fathers cover up for their sons, and sons cover up for their fathers. Straightness is to be found in such behaviour.’” (Analects, XIII, 18)10Conflict in China: Family or State?•The Governor of She: the State, the Law is primary•Confucius (551-479 BCE) : the Family is primary11Legalism in the West•Socrates’ discussion with the Laws–“Are we not, first, your parents?” •= Platonic resolution of the conflict of Antigone•> Further developed in Roman Cosmopolitan law•Expressed in Stoic obedience to divine Law12Historical Expression of this Conflict•Confucius 551-479 BCE•Period of Warring States: 481-222 BCE•Qin dynasty unites China: 221 BCE–Qin Shi Huangdi “The First Emperor” (See movie “Hero”)–Adopts Legalism; burns books of Confucius•Han revolution 202 BCE–Peasant leader: Liu Bang (died 195 BCE)–> Han rulers adopt the philosophy of Confucius•How long did the Qin (Chin) dynasty last?13Duration of Roman Empire•Roman Empire 27 BCE – 476 CE•Urban proletariat abandons Rome•Become voluntary serfs on large latifundia–Serfdom: exchange portion of product, labor for land–Replacing slaves•> Root of European feudalism 14Why did the Roman Empire fall?•Practical –Limits of expansion–Slaves become expensive–Army based on mercenary “barbarian” soldiers•Intellectual –Legal citizenship is empty, abstract–“Christian otherworldliness”? (Gibbon)•Other: see Spodek 19715Empty Legality as a Cause of Fall? •Recall early reasons for State rule–1) Technological: irrigation–2) Defense–3) Exploitation (civilization trap)•Greek and Roman republics: –4) Legal Rights to freedom (for some), based on human-made law•But with empire, legal rights become empty–Rome hires barbarians to fight its wars–Barbarians defeat Rome16Long Duration of Chinese Empires•Legalist Qin 221-202 BCE (19 yrs)•Confucian Han 202 BCE to 220 CE (422 years)–Period of disunity (361 years)•Chinese empire reunited by Sui (581- ) –Minor interruptions (esp. 1916-49) –over 1300 years!!•= History of the Decline and Fall and Rise Again of Chinese Empire17Underlying Unity•“It appeared that the Chinese Empire, like that of Rome, had lost control of its original homeland and divided forever.” Spodek 223Cultural and ideological unity