Roland's Little Talk - From Small Bridges and Flowing Water to Economic Takeoff: From Small Bridges and Flowing Water to Economic Takeoff

Author: Luo Lan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-05-01
Features: I still remember before the tourist visa was opened, only merchants could smoothly obtain exit permits. Many people therefore went to great lengths to get a letter of appointment from their business friends, changing the occupation field in their ID cards to "businessman" to travel abroad. At that time, this sudden shift from a traditional disdain for commerce to granting special privileges to the business community shocked the cultural circles and even felt like a humiliation. But the situation had already developed in this way; you couldn’t deny that the business community had taken the lead, laid the foundation for a comfortable life, and gradually accumulated wealth. Now, everyone can afford to travel abroad. Moreover, the extravagance of Chinese tourists abroad has made foreigners take us "with new eyes," and none deny that "yellow-faced tourists are willing to spend big." No one can deny this undeniable fact that they have benefited under the guidance of merchants. It’s no surprise that cultural figures have turned to business in various ways. This is a major breakthrough in the concept of "disdain for profit." "Disdain for profit" is a moral barrier painstakingly built over thousands of years by Confucianism and Taoism. The question is, will this barrier be in danger of collapsing due to this conceptual breakthrough? If this barrier collapses, will there be harm? I’m not a moralist and don’t wish for everyone to cling to outdated ways and avoid renewal. I just feel that in this world, if everyone pursues profit, but you alone don’t; if all countries pursue profit, but you alone don’t, you will undoubtedly become deprived and unable to stand. But if everyone pursues profit, and society is filled with "profit-driven commoners," with everyone "prioritizing profit over righteousness and not stealing unless necessary," it may not be a blessing to society. Look at the current trend of theft among the youth, the various visible and invisible crimes committed for profit in society, and the severe spread of pornography. It seems like the surging muddy current pouring in from the breach in the barrier, causing great anxiety. Is there an appropriate method to quickly plug this breach or divert this muddy current? There are many smart people in the West, but unfortunately, I haven’t read all the major works of Western philosophers. I can only think of what a Chinese like me knows, and I end up coming back to "Confucius Goes to Wei." In the Analects, in the Zilu Chapter, Confucius went to Wei, and Ran You was driving. Seeing that Wei had a large population, Ran You asked Confucius, "If the population is large, what should we do?" Confucius said, "Make the people prosperous." Ran You then asked, "After they are prosperous, what else should we do?" When the people are prosperous, what else should be done? Confucius’s answer was, "Educate them." Originally, the Confucian teaching of "disdaining profit" was not about not wanting to get rich, but rather that the primary duty of governance is to first make the people prosperous. However, immediately after "making them prosperous," it is necessary to "educate them." "Educate them"—educate them about the "distinction between righteousness and profit." Use "righteousness" to balance the side effects brought by "profit," so that people know under what circumstances to "consider profit in light of righteousness," and thus avoid incidents like the American air traffic controller striking down without regard for national interests or public safety. Then, when should this education start?