Ron Morrison discusses Confucionism at York County Senior College

In a talk kicking off York County Senior College's winter seminar series, Ron Morrison, Ph.D., shed light on the inscutable oriental philosophy of Confucius. While not settling the age old question whether Confucionism is a religion or a social philosophy, Prof. Morrison likened the teaching of Confucius to the Golden Rule of Jesus. But unlike Jesus and Socrates, whose focus was on the individual rather than society, Confucius emphasized relationships, beginning with the family.

In the end, Prof. Morrison said, Confucionism can be distilled to the essential notion of what it means to be human - "to work together toward a moral society infused with a sense of responsibility and tempered by sympathetic understanding."

The lecture was sponsored by York County Senior College, the first of three in the winter series. The college will begin spring semester class in March. Classes meet in Saco and Springvale under the aegis of the University of Maine System.

The college, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, is run by volunteers and classes are taught by volunteers. Membership in the college is open to all citizens of York County aged 50 or older.