Introduction to Classical Chinese Philosophy Instructor: Masayuki Sato Mid-Term Paper Question 1: Do you think which doctrine was really helpful for saving people from their destitute condition between Mohism and Mencius’ thought‚ and why? When we put the two philosopher’s thoughts together‚ we can see one striking commonality. Both of them were against aggressive way and emphasized the importance of caring for the welfare of the state’s people. Ideologies that run in opposite directions
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Mencius and Xunzi on Human Nature Mencius and Xunzi both follow Confucian philosophy yet have a dramatically different understanding of human nature. Additionally‚ the two philosophers make their arguments in strikingly different literary methods. Mencius believes that the “goodness of human nature is like the downward course of water” (147) in that people are naturally inclined to be good‚ and he makes this argument through conversations among friends and public figures. In contrast‚ Xunzi staunchly
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1. What social structure does Mencius envision for the ideal society? Who should be in charge? Does he favor choosing officials based on ascriptive status (i.e. their aristocratic pedigree) or does he believe in using meritocratic criteria for selecting officials? Is he egalitarian‚ or does he favor maintenance of a social hierarchy? Mencius developed a very early form of what was to be called in modern times the "social contract." Mencius‚ like Confucius‚ believed that rulers were divinely
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incompetent tendency‚ or if outside influences‚ such as a difficult childhood‚ turned a naturally innocent person into a murderer. The Chinese philosophers‚ Mencius and Xunzi‚ explored this difficulty in their philosophies. While both considered themselves disciples of the philosopher‚ Confucius‚ their perspective on humans were different. Mencius had an optimistic view of humans‚ while Xunzi saw humans as creatures in need of reform.
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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
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In the Mencius‚ translated by D.C. Lau‚ Mencius is urging rulers throughout China to practice a benevolent government in order to sustain a harmonious society. He also presents his view on human nature‚ stating that it is good. In this paper‚ I will develop what Mencius means by this and give supporting reasons on why he thinks this is so. Secondly‚ I will bring up an opposing view from Xunzi who claims that human nature is bad because they lack a moral compass and are driven by selfish desires.
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Mencius and Han Feizi were both Chinese philosophers who supported various beliefs in how to properly govern a state. Together‚ they were able to create a diverse influence in both the past and present world. Mencius strongly believed that humans are inherently good‚ while Han Feizi was a philosopher adamant about the human nature being selfish and corrupt. Mencius proves that people are naturally virtuous by using an illustration of a baby that has fallen into a well. He explains that people will
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Response – Mencius Throughout Mencius‚ there is continual debate amongst the people regarding human nature; is it‚ by nature‚ good or bad? Every option is discussed by Mencius himself‚ ranging from whether all are born good‚ born evil‚ born with both or born with neither. Overall‚ Mencius succeeds in his description of all possibilities of whether human nature is good or bad. The main permutation discussed by Mencius is that all humans are born good. In Book 2‚ Part A‚ Section 6‚ Mencius describes
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Mencius believes that human nature is innately good. Mencius believes that humans have four virtues that they have been taught in order to flourish and those are compassion‚ shame‚ respect and knowing right from wrong. Mencius doesn’t ignore the fact that there are evil or bad people in this world‚ he believes some people do fail due to poor development or not being taught the virtues of what makes a good human being. On the other hand‚ Hsun-tzu takes Mencius’s ideas and strongly disagrees. To Hsun-tzu
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Caitlin Arnold Human Nature Mencius is an ancient philosopher of China around the fourth century B.C. He was believed to have similar view to the philosopher Confucius‚ and he had a strong view on human nature. Mencius believed that human nature was intrinsically benevolent. Mencius believed that people had four virtues that drove their thoughts and actions. Mencius is quoted to say‚ “Therefore‚ it can be suggested that without a mind of commiseration is not human‚ that a person without
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