谁在吃人？谁开的黑店？

0. 谁在吃人？谁开的黑店？

Prompt:

回归中文世界的儒家： 吃人的礼教是一个虚假命题，因为礼教不会吃人，吃人的是利用礼教的统治者；孔家店也跟孔子无关，而是挂儒家羊头、卖自家狗肉的黑店。孔子说： 人而不仁，如礼何？说的是没有仁德修养，又怎么可能理解礼教呢？我们都被孔子说中了啊！(ChatGPT ignored my insightful comment in the last sentence. Haha! Save face for humankind, I think. How kind this AI assistant!)

ChatGPT:

### Confucianism in Context

In the context of Confucian philosophy, the discussion of "rites" and "benevolence" is crucial. Let’s explore these viewpoints:

### The Fallacy of “Rites that Devour People” and the Role of Rulers

1. **False Proposition**:

   - The idea of “rites that devour people” is a false proposition. The rites themselves, as emphasized in Confucian culture, are norms and teachings aimed at promoting social harmony and order. The rites themselves do not harm people; rather, it is the rulers who misuse the rites for their own control and advantage.

2. **Rulers Who Exploit the Rites**:

   - In reality, the harm comes from those rulers who use the rites as a tool to control and oppress others. These rulers distort and abuse the spirit of the rites to consolidate their own power and position.

### The Metaphor of "Confucian Store"

1. **Hanging a Sheep’s Head to Sell Dog Meat**:

   - The “Confucian store” is likened to a black market that displays a Confucian sign but sells false content. This implies that some institutions or individuals bearing the name of Confucianism actually deliver content that contradicts the true essence of Confucian thought.

2. **Unrelated to Confucius’s True Teachings**:

   - These so-called “Confucian stores” do not truly represent Confucius’s teachings but exploit the name of Confucianism for personal gain.

### Confucius’s Teachings

1. **Benevolence and Rites**:

   - Confucius emphasized that understanding and practicing the rites genuinely requires the cultivation of benevolence. If a person lacks benevolence, even if they learn the external forms of the rites, they cannot truly understand and implement the core spirit of the rites.

2. **Confucius’s Insight**:

   - Confucius’s statements reveal an important point: those who only learn the surface of the rites while neglecting benevolence cannot truly grasp the rites. This phenomenon exists in society, leading to the distortion and misuse of the rites.

### Conclusion

Confucian rites are meant to promote social harmony and morality. However, when misused by irresponsible rulers, they can create a false “devouring” phenomenon. Moreover, some entities or individuals using the name of Confucianism may not truly convey Confucius’s authentic teachings. Confucius’s teachings highlight the importance of benevolence for understanding and practicing the rites. We need to truly understand the core of Confucian thought to avoid being misled by false appearances.