This document stresses the influence of surroundings and the idea that a person should give weight or emphasis to experience and age as opposed to a single supreme source. Document 4 focuses on the codes of acceptable behavior in terms of taking the middle path. This document explains how an individual’s surroundings impact their decisions and how a perfect person focuses on a balance of the extremes and not on a commitment to just one path. Document 7 focuses on the codes or rules for understanding the balance between real and abstract for a more complete existence. This document continues the theme of balance between two concepts and is consistent with Confucian philosophy.
An example of Victor Hugo trying to say that human nature is basically good is shown on page 317 ,through Jean Valjean actions. The quote on page 317 states, “ Jean Valjean found himself ,with Marius still senseless in a sort of long underground passage. The deep peace absolute silence night. The impression which he had formerly felt in falling from the street into the convent came back to him. Only what he was now carrying away was not Cosette ; it was Marius.”
The quote from Mencius, “’Those who follow their greater body become great men, those who follow their lesser body become small men’” (Mengzi 6A15) is one that presents what it means to live a good life. A great man is an individual who listens to their heart and mind and is not overcome by distractions. On the contrary, a small man is an individual who only listens to their desires. When an individual only listens to their desires, their soul is not in harmony.
1 Daoism and Confucianism are both widely misunderstood in the Western culture. People who practice and follow Daoism are called Daoists; while, people who practice and follow Confucianism are called Confucians. The word “Dao” is equivalent to the word of way, path, and road. In which, the significance of the meaning refers to the Daoist’s religion of the natural way of life. On the other hand Confucianism originated as a Western term, in which it focuses on ethics and education.
In Man’s Nature Is Good and Man’s Nature Is Evil, Mencius and Hsun Tzu argue about the true meaning of human nature. Mencius believed that humans are inherently good and Hsun Tzu believed that humans are naturally evil. Is it possible humans can be both good and evil? When it comes to whether human nature is good or evil, most people will choose one or the other.
Wang Wei and Zhuang Zi In ancient China lots of people wished to have free life. The modern life people can see it in their poem or story. Just like the Wang Wei and Zhuang Zi, in their poem and story we can feel their life attitude. One was the poet other was philosopher .
When a human being is born, they’re bound to be good in either their persona or nature. In this case, this philosophy found it to be incorrect occurring to a Chinese scholar Hsun Tzu, who was a philosopher in circa 300-230 BCE. He believed human beings were not born good but instead he believed they were born evil. Similarly, to what Tzu believed there was an England political philosopher in the 1600s and his name was Thomas Hobbes, and he believed human nature was malicious as well.
To a large extent I believe that is it better to live our lives spontaneously. Although spontaneity can be interpreted as impulsive, radical and not following the rules, it can also be seen as not conducting premeditated acts and not being affected by external stimuli. For the purpose of this essay, I will explore spontaneity in the Daoist scope, as well as opposing viewpoints from other Chinese philosophical schools, such as Xunzi and Daizhen. Spontaneity in Daoism is going along with the flow, and the continuation of one’s natural disposition without deliberation (DDJ 37, ZZ 1.7). The benefits of going along with the flow and living spontaneously can be demonstrated in two concepts, Wuwei and Wuyong.
This essay will argue why ‘free will’ can be one of the essential criteria to characterize humans, and examine conceivable contentions for ‘free will' to characterize humankind due to now having new innovation that regulates or sets our choices. First of all, what does it mean to be a human or what makes human a human? A man belongs to a group of mammals, but unlike animals, he has a conscience, a clever man, sympathetic, respects his ancestors.
Eric Li Phil 511 Prof. Tiwald 10/14/15 Human Nature is Good Human nature are hard to define, even philosophers are divided by it. In both eastern and western philosophy we have philosophers, Mengzi and Rousseau, who argued for human nature being good, and we have philosopher, Yang Zhu, who argues that human nature is bad. Mengzi in the bce taught that human nature is good, but people stray from it because they do not reflect on the four virtues they are born with. In addition, Rousseau, who is born after the bce, writes that human nature is good, but because of the development of society people have changed.
This question has been asked for hundreds of years, are humans born inherently good or bad? Some might argue that as people mature, society’s influences ultimately determine whether or not that person will end up being good or bad. These people suggest that humans are naturally born of good intent. Many studies show that this may be true. In another case it can be argued that some people are born with a natural instinct to do bad things.
In Confucianism the idea of a "good person" can be described as someone who follows all the laws and has no wickedness in them. Also, someone who is devoted to their ruler. For example, Confucius wrote "if the will be set on virtue there will be no practice of wickedness" (Confucius 199). Meaning, if the person is focused on virtue, or moral goodness, then they will live a good life without wickedness.
Is your phone more important to you than your spouse? Or even your children? How about a random coworker that works in the same office that you do? When you text while driving your basically saying yes to all of those questions. Not only your life's in danger when you make the fatal error of texting when behind the wheel, other people suffer from your decisions.
Throughout the history, there have been heated discussions on what constitutes a good life. Philosophers have given different annotations on the meaning of good life based on their beliefs, perspectives or even scientific-based evidences. Some view a good life as an accumulation of material goods that brings “large amount” of pleasure to oneself. On the other hand, Mencius and Aristotle advocate good life as possessing of pleasure that incorporates ethical values and they believe that by doing so one will experience enduring happiness. There is no ultimate right or wrong for these interpretations since this is not a factual question.
For the second quote, it tells us that it is good if we know about the human nature because you will gain knowledge from it. But it does not be as good as just know it than fully knowing it. Also, the word “delight” in the second quote, means to be happy, and to live life full and happy as a human being on earth (Professor Magagna, 2015). Professor Magagna also brings out an idea from Mencius, that human nature is already bad. Therefore, if the children are bad, are you going to save him or her?
