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Mencius Human Nature Analysis

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Discuss the implications of XunZi and Mencius’ views on Human Nature

RE Philosophy Group 2 2015
Group Members:
Chen Jin Yang (4)
Li Ze Hua (15)
Lu Shao Qin (18)
Aaron Tan (25)
Theodore Kuah (27)

Introduction Human nature is an abstract concept, defined in modern terms as the general psychological characteristics, feelings, and behavioural traits of humankind. This is a topic that has been debated amongst a number of philosophers throughout history, and in this paper we will be specifically looking at two chinese philosophers, Mencius and Xunzi. Although both of them are Confucian thinkers, they have seemingly contradictory ideas on whether human nature is inherently good or bad. The main aim of this paper …show more content…

Two key quotes of this argument goes as follows:

(Quote 4) “it is human nature to be born with a fondness for profit”

This quote essentially asserts that humans are born with various selfish desires, such as the desire for beautiful sounds, sights, and wealth. When brought together with the second quote, it implies that no human being is free from these desires, and one has to be guided by a teacher and rituals to eventually eliminate these selfish desires and transform one’s human nature from bad to good, wholly transformed when one attains sagehood, in order to act for the good of others.

(Quote 5) “one must be transformed by the example of a teacher and guided by the way of ritual and rightness before one will attain modesty and yielding, accord with refinement and ritual, and return to order”

This quote, is similar to Mencius’ view, as although both believe differently in the nature of humans, the two philosophers both stand for the importance of education, where teachers and rituals play a very big part in the development of a …show more content…

This is because of the earlier premise that it is inherent of humans to be born with selfish desires, thus education is necessary, rather than simply being important, which is Mencius’ views. In other words, as Xunzi believes that humans will perform bad deeds in an neutral environment where no education is present due to the bad human nature, he holds that education and rituals are necessary if a person were to perform good deeds/attain sagehood. However, as Mencius believes that humans will perform good deeds in an neutral environment due to the good human nature, he simply believes that education and rituals are important, not to the extent of

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