Mencius Essays

The Continuation of Confucian Thought Through Mencius The Confucian tradition, despite diversifying interpretations and developments from generation to generation, remains an influential set of teachings to this date. This profound impact, in part, can be owed to Mencius, who, as a self-proclaimed disciple of Confucius, played an important role in upholding and passing on the Master’s teachings. Mencius’s own ideas built upon the Confucian ideal of moral development and its direct relation to social

However, after Tzu death, Confucianism was crowned the new philosopher of china. As the newly appointed philosopher, he denies all of Tzu opposing views about mankind, but agrees to Mencius another famous Confucian after Confucius himself optimistic theories. Notwithstanding, Tzu was the first philosopher to develop Confucius observation that holds a general truth, for example “if ain’t broke, don’t fix it” into a system of complete

first, published in 1997, of three projected volumes examining Confucian-Mencian ethical thought by Professor Kwong-loi Shun. This book is to explore the possibilities of the text (Roetz, 1999, p. 385) and to study the reflective ethical thinking of Mencius with subsequent references to and comparisons with that of other early Chinese thinkers such as Confucius, Mo Tsu, the Yangists and Hsün Tsu, through assessing and analyzing traditional and contemporary interpretations of the Meng-tzu in commentaries

Confucianism is a complex of ethical and philosophical categories which is based on the teachings of the ancient Chinese sage called Confucius. After his death teachings were developed and supplemented by his follower and began to play a tremendous role in many spheres of Chinese society. It greatly influenced folks from the neighboring countries such as Korea and Japan. Confucianism is a way of life which maintained religious unity and contributed to ethnic consolidation Chinese for more than two

Lewis Model Argumentative Essay The essay mainly introduces three categories of countries written by an authoritative linguist Lewis, in order to help readers to reduce culture shock and explore the world’s economy. Of these three types, the first one is “Linear-actives” and the second is “Multi-actives”. The last one is “Reactives”. While my classmates disagree with these three patterns, I am in favor of Lewis. The reason is that he illustrates and summarizes typical differences between different

Analysis of Abuse on Filial Duty in Two Short Stories Filial piety is the widely known ideology that children must be respectful towards their elders and ancestors. This is a common belief in many countries around the world, especially in societies influenced by Confucian values like China. Filial duty is the obligation children have to their parents to be obedient and submissive to their requests. While these values are practiced to varying degrees in families globally, the significance of these

Confucius’ belief has huge impacts on the relationship in a family and adds complicity to the relationship in Qing dynasty. The distance between family members play an important role of challenging filial piety. Confucianism focuses on the the parallel conception of society. As part of the parallel conception, the relationship between parents and children is constantly emphasized. In addition, Confucius’s idea was widely spread and accepted by the public. Thus, children were taught the main idea

Filial piety has been one of the most important virtues of Ancient China; even now, the Chinese still hold it in high regard. It encourages one to pay respect towards one’s parents and elders, including the deceased. Though it may seem like tending to those who nurtured you from the beginning of time is an instinctive ability, the Chinese took it even further than that. Ebrey relays in one of the sections in her collection of translated works, namely The Classic of Filial Piety, that filial piety

The Tang dynasty was one of the greatest dynasties in chinese history. The Tang dynasty had taken over the Sui dynasty, meaning the Sui dynasty might not have been listening to the mandate of heaven. The mandate of heaven said that if you did not treat your people the right way, you will be overthrown by a new dynasty, and the Sui dynasty was overthrown by the Tang dynasty.(mandate of heaven) The Tang dynasty had a population of about fifty million people, which was big during this time. The Tang

To a large extent it is better to live spontaneously. Mencius and Daoism have different interpretations on spontaneity. Mencius emphasizes on expanding humans’ innate good nature, which leads to spontaneous moral cultivation. On the other hand, Daoism spontaneity is emptying ourselves and follow the nature of the outside world without human interference. In this essay, I will first describe the concept of spontaneity in both Mencian and Daoist views, and then I will argue that it is better to live

Specifically, within Chinese philosophy, thinkers such as Mencius, Confucius, and Mozi stand out. While Mengzi and Confucius’s ideals share many similarities, Mozi’s ideals contrast them. Nevertheless, by examining topics such as human nature, social and political responsibilities, and meritocracy, Mencius, Confucius, and Mozi provide commentary on the role of government and how men should behave in society so as to advance it. According to Mencius, the proper role of government is to advance virtuous

In the discussion on the methods of governing and administration of a state, one cannot leave out the models proposed by Confucius as well as Mencius. Both advocated that the ruler or the government has to rule by virtue and strengthen moral education among its people. Political leaders have to set moral examples for the people to follow, and to be benevolent towards their subordinates and citizens. By doing so, that would bring about social stability and population growth within the state, also

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

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. However, can’t it be both? Both Mencius and Hsun Tzu can be right, there are millions of people in the world and some are good and some

reflect on their life- are they doing the right thing? How can the person improve their character? Later, in 14th century BC, Mencius, a Confucian scholar, decided to begin a new dynasty based on Confucian teachings. Some beliefs between the two were similar, however, Mencius and Confucius had some differences as well. Confucius’ teachings included rituals and goodness, and Mencius’ teaching included coherent and capricious worlds. Rituals are a series of actions or behaviors that happen regularly.

Mencius suggested that everyone was inherently good and the environment around that person made him/her evil. On the other hand, Hsün Tzu contradicted Mencius and suggested that everyone was inherently evil but rituals, laws, and rites took men in a good direction. However, I believe that people are born neither inherently good nor evil. A person’s mind is born as a “blank slate” (Locke 100). Everyone, at birth, possesses instincts that as babies, we were not aware of. Similarly, the environment

(1045–256 BC). Mencius addressed the apparent failure of Confucius in addressing human rights matters in feudalism. Mencius stated that a bad tyrannical ruler can be deposed by advisors if they had great faults and did not heed warnings to reform. Virtue ethics under Confucianism, imparts a new moral concept called rights of men . Confucianism balanced the existing authoritarian rule in a feudal society, by supporting the concept that tyrants could be deposed by other aristocrats when they fail

It’s a little bit difficult to understand the cultural and political influences each of these men had on early Chinese government and society. From my understanding and what I’ve gathered from the reading. The main focus and point the Mencius is trying to make are this; In our human nature, we are naturally innocent and good. We are born good and we know what is right and what is wrong. He also had said that each of us has goodness inside of everyone, though that’s as individuals. But individuals

Andrew Wilkins Prof. Konopka FILA 24 October 2014 “The Nature of Man” The excerpt “Man’s Nature Is Good” by Mencius and the excerpt “Man’s Nature Is Bad ” by Hsun Tzu both, unknowingly, agree that the nature of man is flexible. Throughout the excerpts, deep analysis into the nature of man (whether good or bad) is prevalent. This analysis is necessary due to the vagueness of Confucius who had not taken a stance on the nature of humans. This aspect of Confucius led to a split amongst his followers;

How to live a good life is imperative for countless people. In the Mengzi, Chinese philosopher Mencius explains how to live the good life by way of living the social life. It is in my view that the social life is the most convincing because it demonstrates how we as humans are cultivated into living a full, happy life. In Mencius’ view, living the social life is identified as living as a truly happy person because you fit into society and have fully cultivated sprouts. The moral sprouts are humanity