Why Confucius Judged Others

Confucius

and his followers believed that people must be understood as best as possible, treated accordingly, and if suitable, given the right positions in government for society to benefit. By doing so, the scholars of c. 450 BCE believed they could improve China's future, and attain a peaceful and halcyon period that would echo glories of the region's past (see earlier post).

Confucius

The idea of assessing people accurately and then placing them in the best possible position for them and society was an important one, and not limited to Confucius' historical time or geographic location. The 18th century French sociologist Charles Fourier had a parallel utopian vision of such a dream: That if each person was put in exactly the right position, society and the individual would both work far better. Fourier's approach to personality, however, was to classify people into 810 narrowly specific character types. His hope was that if society could slot them exactly in the right places, work might be turned into play, and each group of people would function smoothly.

To return to Confucius' system: Although it was earlier in inception than Fourier's, its judgments of personality were at once more pragmatic and flexible, and therefore, far more consistent with contemporary thought. So, how to understand people and direct them to optimal positions in society?

One way Confucius taught about people and their strengths and weaknesses was to discuss well-known individuals of the time: Local leaders, his disciples and others. The Analects is full of discussions of such people, apparently familiar to those of the time, such as the Duke of Zhou, as well as the more central followers of Confucianism, including Confucius' disciples Zigong, Ran Qiu, and others. (Confucius discouraged idle comparisons of people, however; see this earlier post).

Confucius saw personality as a system of interrelated parts. It was to no avail to be good at some things if an individual's personality overall system did not function well in general:

The Master said: "A man may have the splendid talents of the Duke of Zhou, but if he is arrogant and mean, all his merits count for nothing."

Also, Confucius watched not only words but also behavior. After likening a student (who was sleeping in the middle of the day) to rotten wood that could not be carved, Confucius remarked on the importance of watching a person's behavior:

The Master said: "There was a time when I used to listen to what people said and trusted that they would act accordingly, but now I listen to what they say and watch what they do."

Confucius also stressed both people's consistency and their dynamic changing nature. He understood that life was a journey, that personality grew and developed, and that a person ought to be assessed accordingly.

The Master said: "One should regard the young with awe: how do you know that the next generation will not equal the present one? If, however, by the age of forty or fifty, a man has not made a name for himself, he no longer deserves to be taken seriously."

Yet another aspect of Confucius is his understanding that people with different personalities must be treated differently. This applied to two of his students. Each one asked Confucius if he should apply what he had learned right away.

...Gongxi Chi said: "When Zilu asked if he should practice at once what he had just learned, you told him to consult first with his father and elder brother. When Ran Qiu asked... you told him to practice it at once. I am confused; may I ask you to explain?" The Master said: "Ran Qiu is slow, therefore I push him; Zilu has energy for two, therefore I hold him back."

As we know today, judgments of personality rarely will be 100% accurate.

Confucius recognized that there were some things he could judge relatively well - and some he could not - even of his own students. The more hidden and interior the quality, the more difficult it may be to judge. A lord asked Confucius whether his disciple, Zilu, was good. Confucius demurred, saying he did not know. The lord asked about Zilu again and whether he would make a good leader. The passage below from the Analects begins with Confucius' reply about Zilu, and continues with the lord's further questions:

The Master said: "In the government of a middle-sized country, he could be entrusted with the ministry of defense. But whether he is good, I do not know."

"And what about Ran Qiu?" The Master said: "Ran Qiu? He could be the mayor of a small city or the steward of a large estate. But whether he is good, I do not know."

"And what about Gongxi Chi?" The Master said: "Gongxi Chi? Girt with his sash, he could stand at court and entertain distinguished guests. But whether he is good, I do not know."

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Notes: Direct quotes from the Analects follow Confucius in Leys, S. (1997) (Trans & Ed). The analects of Confucius. New York: W. W. Norton. [Original work c. 479 BCE]. "A man may have the splendid talents of the Duke of Zhou..." Chapter 8.11; "There was a time when I used to listen" Chapter 5.10; "One should regard the young with awe..." Chapter 9.23; ...Gongxi Chi said: "When Zilu asked..." Chapter 11.22; "In the government of a middle-sized country," Chapter 5.8

Copyright © 2009 John D. Mayer