Plato had four levels: control of the emotions through Temperance, Spirit through Courage, Reason through Wisdom, and then making the leap through Eros to the Forms and Beauty. Abraham Maslow had his own development: securing physiological needs, safety, love, self-esteem, and then self-actualization in ascending order. I have my own levels of actualization which involve a human?s ability to understand and use: Logic, Epistemology, Morals, Ethics, Theology, Logos and then bringing them into the world through the Science, State, Religion, and God in ascending order.

I am a Chinese American currently living in Asia, mainly between Taiwan and mainland China. Confucianism with its emphasis on social relationships and kindness had been the clue that held the Chinese society together for thousands of years. Unfortunately, due to historical developments in the past 100 years, Confucianism has been corroded and almost disappeared in present day China and Taiwan. The errosion of Confucian values in China was mainly brought about by the red cultural revolution. During the revolution, the Communist party encouraged children to turn against their parents and students to turn against their teachers; values and behaviors that were contrary to Confucian morals were encouraged. Confucianism had been preserved on the island of Taiwan during the revolution. However, due to the rise of pro Taiwan independence movement and changes in political landscape, Confucianism along with all things "Chinese" have been suppressed and discarded in Taiwan over the years. The pro independence majority wants to establish their new cultural identity and severe their historical and cultural ties with China.
The decline of Confucianism in both Taiwan and China saddens me deeply. Although people in Taiwan and China read, write and speak in Chinese, their values and morals are no longer Confucian. Both Taiwan and China are in a moral vacuum. American cultural imperialism and the values conveyed in American media, have much influenced Taiwan, China and much of Asia. Sex, violence, scandals, obscenity and all things sensational are ubiquitous in Taiwan's media. China's state controled media is actually preferable to Taiwan's tabloid news.
I hope the Chinese people will once again discover the wisdom of Confucianism.

Confucianism had been preserved on the island of Taiwan during the revolution. However, due to the rise of pro Taiwan independence movement and changes in political landscape, Confucianism along with all things "Chinese" have been suppressed and discarded in Taiwan over the years.
Both of those sentences are ridiculous. The KMT did not preserve Confucianism -- that was killed by the Sung Neo-Confucians centuries ago -- they simply wrapped an authoritarian state around his name. The independence movement in Taiwan is Taiwan-centered, but that does not mean that all thing Chinese have been suppressed. Not a single temple has been closed, the traditional arts flourish, and mandarin is still the official language.
Michael