Hsun Tzu Encouraging Learning Summary

Hsun Tzu said “A person is born with desires of the eyes and ears, and a liking for sounds. If he gives way to them, they will lead him to immorality and lack of restriction, and any ritual principles and propriety will be abandoned.” This quote can be related to his work, “Hsun Tzu Encouraging Learning,” as that is one of the underlying themes in the story. The story emphasized the importance of continuous learning. Hsun Tzu was one out of the three early famous Confucian philosophers. He was well known for his views on human nature. Hsun believed that only human instinct can only change by hard training and lots of studying. He also believed that humans should always be learning until their death. In this story, Hsun Tzu’s targeted audience

Hsun has three different stages of learning. He first has the Scholar who says, “He who does not comprehend moral relationships and categories and who does not make himself one with benevolence and righteousness cannot be called a good scholar” (551). The quote mens the scholar is the one that is the prepared student. Next, he has the Gentlemen who says, “And if the gentleman studies widely and each day examines himself, his wisdom will become clear and his conduct be without fault” (546). This quote means the gentlemen is the one still deep in his/her learning. Lastly, he has the Sage who says, “Pile up good deeds to create virtue and godlike understanding will come of itself; there the mind of the sage will find completion” (548). The quote means that sage is the one who followed the right path and continued the right path. These different stages cite education as a means of becoming different complete, well-rounded individuals that can make decisions. Each person must learn to accumulate knowledge and understanding. Each person should not stop learning until death comes. Each person should be suggested to surround themselves with the right people so they go in the right path of