Free Essays on Mencius

We are all affected by our surroundings and experiences, as these are the fundamental building blocks on which we perceive our world. It is not surprising, then, that two of Confucius f most distinguished followers, Mencius and Xunzi, hold two very different views on Human Nature. Although the Confucian philosopher Mencius did not live during a particularly peaceful era in Chinese historyhe was a traveling advisor during the Warring States period, lasting from 403 until 221 BCEthe time during which Xunzi (a member of the following generation of Confucian scholars) lived was much darker and bloodier as he witnessed the wars leading up to the Qin dynasties conquest in the late third century which where  galmost indescribably brutal [as] the intrigues surrounding them [were] often intensely bitter. h While Confucian never saw the need to make his thoughts on the character of human nature unambiguously clear, insisting that  gby nature men are very much the same, [and that] it is through practice that they drift apart, h his followers, Mencius and Xunzi, have addressed the question much more clearly. The former believed that man was predisposed to good, and if some individuals wandered from the right path and turned to evil, it was because external influences has  gperverted their hearts. h He maintained that there exists a natural tendency for goodness, as inevitable as the natural tendency of water to flow downward, (Mencius, 6A.3) and that human beings gain a natural sense of pleasure from acting morally. He puts much greater emphasis on the innate goodness of human nature, which he insists is the gift of Heaven to each and every man. Also Mencius tries to  grecall and enlarge the Confucian idea of ren, or humaneness and the principle of yi, or rightness. h Xunzi on the other hand insists that Human Nature is inherently evil. He thought; people's natural tendencies are corrupt, and moral education runs against t... Free Essays on Mencius Free Essays on Mencius The ideas and theories that both Mencius and Hzun Tzu held entailed to whether or not man’s nature was good or evil. Mencius claimed that human nature was naturally good. Man was born innocent and naà ¯ve and it was only through time, war and experience that man became corrupt. However, Hzun Tzu felt that human nature from birth was stained with corruption and full of evil and selfishness. Mencius and Hzun Tzu’s attitudes towards human nature were equally debatable and controversial. These two great philosophers equally contributed to Confucianism and were both prominent founders of the Confucian belief. Mencius’ view on man and his nature were moralistic whereas Hzun Tzu’s view encompassed a more legalistic world (Liu, 2002). Hzun Tzu approached man through an authoritative manner where a ruling governor would discipline the people. Mencius felt it necessary to leave decisions as well as choices to the people; he felt whatever morals and value s they have learned would aid in the process of proper decision-making. Each philosopher has their own distinct belief as to the thought of human nature those of Mencius and Hzun Tzu although somewhat concrete in his own opinion and seemingly believable oppose and contradict one another. Hzun-Tzu believed that man was by nature evil. Unlike Mencius, he had little faith in humanity and did not feel that man could be depended on whereas Mencius felt that good is found in humanity and man’s mind is ultimately good (Shun, 2000). Hzun Tzu felt that man was born evil and it would only be through education and study that a mind at ease could emerge. Mencius had an extremely contrasting theory; he felt that the mind was innocent and that only man could destroy what was pure. The ideals of Hzun Tzu oppose the doctrines thought and taught by the Confucius faith. Confucian believers are to believe that man is good and by no means evil or bad. The Book of Mencius mentions how if ... Free Essays on Mencius We are all affected by our surroundings and experiences, as these are the fundamental building blocks on which we perceive our world. It is not surprising, then, that two of Confucius f most distinguished followers, Mencius and Xunzi, hold two very different views on Human Nature. Although the Confucian philosopher Mencius did not live during a particularly peaceful era in Chinese historyhe was a traveling advisor during the Warring States period, lasting from 403 until 221 BCEthe time during which Xunzi (a member of the following generation of Confucian scholars) lived was much darker and bloodier as he witnessed the wars leading up to the Qin dynasties conquest in the late third century which where  galmost indescribably brutal [as] the intrigues surrounding them [were] often intensely bitter. h While Confucian never saw the need to make his thoughts on the character of human nature unambiguously clear, insisting that  gby nature men are very much the same, [and that] it is through practice that they drift apart, h his followers, Mencius and Xunzi, have addressed the question much more clearly. The former believed that man was predisposed to good, and if some individuals wandered from the right path and turned to evil, it was because external influences has  gperverted their hearts. h He maintained that there exists a natural tendency for goodness, as inevitable as the natural tendency of water to flow downward, (Mencius, 6A.3) and that human beings gain a natural sense of pleasure from acting morally. He puts much greater emphasis on the innate goodness of human nature, which he insists is the gift of Heaven to each and every man. Also Mencius tries to  grecall and enlarge the Confucian idea of ren, or humaneness and the principle of yi, or rightness. h Xunzi on the other hand insists that Human Nature is inherently evil. He thought; people's natural tendencies are corrupt, and moral education runs against t...