I also have the same believe with you that “one’s environment plays a huge role in one’s ability to morally cultivate oneself”. When people live in the bad environment with bad education, they could become bad even though their original moral is good moral. On the other hand, people could become good when they live in good environment with well training and proper education.

After I read through the handouts, discussion, and comment from prof, I can understand and see clearly of two opposite point of view between Mencius and Xunzi. They both have power of their view about what they emphasized about the human nature. Mencius believe that human nature is good while Xunzi think that we are original born with evil. However, they brings up the