การศึกษาเปรียบเทียบแนวคิดมนุษยนิยมในปรัชญาขงจื้อและพุทธปรัชญาเถรวาท

The aim of this reseach is to compare the concept of humanism in Confucian Philosophy and Theravada Buddhist Philosophy. Actually, the both systems of philosophy regard human being as the beginner, center-piont and the aim of all things. Human being owns the dignity, value and is free to make the decision to do the right things for oneself and one's own society.

This research is divided into 6 chapters as follows:

Chapter 1  Background and significant problem of the reseach

Chapter 2  The general concept of humanism, i.e., meaning, background, appearanec and scope of humanism in both western and eastern philosophy

Chapter 3  Humanism in Confucian Philosophy

Chapter 4  Humanism in Theravada Buddhist philosophy

Chapter 5  A comparison of the concept of humanism in Confucian Philosophy and Theravada Buddhist philosophy Conclusion and suggestion

Chapter 6  Conclusion and suggestion

From the study it leads to an important conclusion that humanism was found in branches of philosophy of both systems, i.e., metaphysics. epistemology and axiology. Both systems contain the similarity and the difference as well. In the part of similarity, both philolophies hold that all persons who ever he or she should do their own duties in moral form such as father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, teacher, student, ruler, people etc. Above all, humanists depend entirely on themselves and deny the supremacy of God or magical power of outsiders. They emphasized that by human's effort, all can reach and find out happiness, peace. unity and liberty for themselves and their society equally.

In the respect of differenec, both systems have a little difference, especially in the method of propagation of philosophy, i.e., Confucius as layman is the great teacher who has leaded general people to intelligence. The Lord Buddha, the Enlightened One as monkthood who has leaded a lot of monks and laymen to enlightenment.

However, both of Confucian philosophy and Theravada Buddhist philosophy have succeeded in propagatoin the concept of humanism in their own way. Both of them have been welcomed, interested, rejioned, and responded by the people from all walks of life. Their central concept is that all human beings are equal in their right, freedom. value and dignity of human beings. By the way, both trend of thought still appear as supportive factor to mankind since then.