During my schooling years, I've heard great things about al-Attas though I haven't yet read his writings. After watching this interview I would say that I agree with his assessment more or less, and I see he has a very Confucian ethic with regard to this matter. Confucius also spoke of "jen" the greatest of all social virtue and really the culmination of all virtues. Confucius also believed that justice and propriety had to due with seeing things in their proper places and that such is established through manners. Even Socrates questioned whether justice was as simple as "giving each thing its proper due" and believed in the value of manners and ethics. I think humanity, at least speaking on behalf of most of the industrialized world, has lost the greater part of its manners in giving each thing its proper respect and place in the grand scheme of things. Wisdom is the proper and practical application of knowledge which itself is only theoretical. Justice is to see the mizan (the Qur'anic scale of things) and give it its proper due. That can only be done by seeing each thing in the universe as a special creation (which it is) and give it its proper due respect with good manners.
And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the Balance (of Justice), In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance. [55:7-9]
Give full measure when ye measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight: that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination. [17:35]
Give full measure, and be not of those who give less (than the due). And weigh with the true balance. [26:181-2]
Allah it is Who hath revealed the Scripture with truth, and the Balance. How canst thou know? It may be that the Hour is nigh. [42:17]
We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may observe right measure [57:25]
To bring peace and harmony into our societies we have to first rectify ourselves, then our families, then our communities and our communities will rectify the government. This is also the teaching of the prophets. A bottom-up approach.
Here is a great passage from The Great Learning of the Confucian classics:
The Way of the great learning involves manifesting virtue,renovating the people, and abiding by the highest good.
The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the world, first ordered well their own States.
Wishing to order well their States, they first regulated their families.
Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons.
Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts.
Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts.
Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost of their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their States were rightly governed. Their States being rightly governed, the entire world was at peace.
From the Son of Heaven (i.e- the Emperor) down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
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