Confucius and the Meaning of Life

A week ago, I posted on Facebook a quote from African American philosopher, Professor Cornel West. He said that “to be an intellectual really means to speak a truth that allows suffering to speak.” Professor West is also a prominent Christian thinker. I love his distinction between Constantine Christianity and Prophetic Christianity.

The social concern of the prophets is consistent with traditional Chinese thinking. In Chinese culture, an intellectual is not just someone whose main occupation is the exercise of the intellect. Having a PhD degree in the natural sciences does not automatically make one an intellectual. Chinese intellectual is given a great deal of social responsibility. He has to engage his heart, soul and mind in socially meaningful activities. In this sense, the role of the Chinese intellectual is similar to the role of a prophet in Judaism — it is to be the eyes, ears and mouths of the people. It is no small responsibility.

Historically speaking, to be a scholar in China is to be a Confucian. Many people dislike Confucianism, holding Confucius responsible for many socially conservative thoughts. But the upside of Confucianism is its tremendous sense of social concern. This is crucial for counterbalancing the escapist aspects of religion. A Confucian scholar is characterized as someone who is worried about the country and care deeply about the common people. This has always been the ideal and duty of Chinese intellectuals.