Question

Why is filial piety the “source of all virtues” in Confucianism?

A. because Confucius believed it is the model for the other four relationships
B. because Confucius believed soldiers should be honored for their duty above the family
C. because Confucius believed equality in relationships was the basis for the other four relationships
D. because Confucius believed people should behave properly in order to avoid punishments

My answer is A, can someone check?

Answer 1

You are correct with answer A, as Confucius indeed believed that filial piety is the model for other relationships. It is considered the primary virtue in Confucianism from which other virtues emanate, emphasizing the significance of family as a microcosm for societal relations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Filial piety holds a central place in Confucianism, and it is indeed considered the "source of all virtues" according to Confucian thought. Your answer, A, is correct. Confucius proposed that the family serves as a model for the state and emphasized the importance of filial piety as a way of maintaining order and benevolence within society. This hierarchy of relationships, starting with the family and extending outward to society and the state, is built upon the idea that a reverence for family relations will foster a sense of obligation and ethical behavior in wider civic life.

For Confucius, the relationship between a father and son was primary and foundational for all other relationships. The significance of filial piety goes beyond a simple adherence to family ties; it also encompasses the virtues of loyalty, respect, and care within the family, which in turn reflects in the societal relations. According to Confucian ethics, if one can act with benevolence and righteousness within the family, these virtues can be extended towards the community and the state. It promotes a harmonious social order based on a hierarchy of relationships.

To further expound on filial piety, Confucius framed concepts of justice and righteousness within the context of family loyalty and care, suggesting that an individual's first moral duty is to their family. Even in circumstance where one's duty to the state and one's duty to the family are in conflict, prioritizing family is seen as the embodiment of moral uprightness according to Confucian doctrines.

Answer 2

Indeed. The correct answer is A because of the following reasons:

- Confucianism always compares a family to society. It considers that just as a father is the head of the family, an Emperor is the head of the State. The mother is like the Empress and the siblings are like the different classes of society. In this manner, not only your close relatives are your brothers (and sisters), your fellow subjects are also your relatives of a much larger family, society. If both the family and society is to function well and be happy and prosperous they need to care and protect one another. Because the model of the immediate family is the model of reference for all the other types of relationships, filial piety occupies a central place not only in Confucianism but in Chinese culture as well.