Arguments On The Qualities Of Mencius And Human Nature
Mencius and Human Nature
The way we think, act or feel seems to just happen naturally for us. Although we do not all think, act, and fell the same at the exact same time everyone has shared thoughts, feelings or actions at some point in time. These ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that are common to most people we define as human nature. Some believe these fundamental traits cannot be changed for better or for worse. Our author, Mencius, claims that human nature is a good thing. In our text Mencius very vividly laid out his views and thoughts on human nature. He believed there were three key arguments to prove that human nature is a good thing. Teleology, a virtue theory, and a moral psychology all support the idea that human nature is …show more content…
According to Mencius there are four basic qualities of the xin; sympathy, shame, deference, judgement. These four qualities are what makes up a human being. Mencius tells us that “A heart-mind that sympathizes is the sprout of co-humanity; a heart-mind that is aware of shame is the sprout of rightness; a heart-mind that defers to others is the sprout of ritual propriety; a heart-mind that approves and condemns is the sprout of wisdom.” (2A6) Here, Mencius is telling us that our feelings for others suffering is what makes us human. Mencius argues that we can not only end the suffering of the one child but many children around the world through good nature. He believes that rightness is internal to …show more content…
Xunzi believes human natures goodness derives from conscious activity. He argues it is human nature to be born with fondness of profit and feelings of hate and envy. (Sources of Chinese Tradition) Xunzi says that “one is born with the desires of the ears and eyes and with fondness for beautiful sight and sounds, and by indulging these, one is led into licentiousness and chaos, so that the sense of rightness with which one was born with is lost. He argues that following human nature only leads to these things. (Sources of Chinese Tradition) Xunzi believes one needs a teacher in life to guide them straight and to
The way we think, act or feel seems to just happen naturally for us. Although we do not all think, act, and fell the same at the exact same time everyone has shared thoughts, feelings or actions at some point in time. These ways of thinking, acting, and feeling that are common to most people we define as human nature. Some believe these fundamental traits cannot be changed for better or for worse. Our author, Mencius, claims that human nature is a good thing. In our text Mencius very vividly laid out his views and thoughts on human nature. He believed there were three key arguments to prove that human nature is a good thing. Teleology, a virtue theory, and a moral psychology all support the idea that human nature is …show more content…
According to Mencius there are four basic qualities of the xin; sympathy, shame, deference, judgement. These four qualities are what makes up a human being. Mencius tells us that “A heart-mind that sympathizes is the sprout of co-humanity; a heart-mind that is aware of shame is the sprout of rightness; a heart-mind that defers to others is the sprout of ritual propriety; a heart-mind that approves and condemns is the sprout of wisdom.” (2A6) Here, Mencius is telling us that our feelings for others suffering is what makes us human. Mencius argues that we can not only end the suffering of the one child but many children around the world through good nature. He believes that rightness is internal to …show more content…
Xunzi believes human natures goodness derives from conscious activity. He argues it is human nature to be born with fondness of profit and feelings of hate and envy. (Sources of Chinese Tradition) Xunzi says that “one is born with the desires of the ears and eyes and with fondness for beautiful sight and sounds, and by indulging these, one is led into licentiousness and chaos, so that the sense of rightness with which one was born with is lost. He argues that following human nature only leads to these things. (Sources of Chinese Tradition) Xunzi believes one needs a teacher in life to guide them straight and to