...Mencius and others on human nature Mencius is best known as the teacher for knowledge and wisdom he explains the problems how we work on issues. Mencius explains the moral sense that makes human suffering. Mencius explains the good and bad life. We live in a cold world when become more selfish and unhappy suffering, pain. Mencius developed the concept of human nature for example The Confucian way the righteousness out of the righteousness and anyone would have an immediate no reflective out reaction Benevolence. Mencius said all people possess within them moral sense that cannot bear the suffering of others. He explains people do not like to suffer or they want to feel loved. Mencius said everyone possesses four moral senses that possess their four limbs. People who lack a moral sense of right or wrong could not be a person. Some people do not know their wrongs accuse others on their wrongs (http://www.indiana.edu/p374/Mengzi3)....
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...Mencius and Xunzi on Human Nature Mencius and Xunzi both follow Confucian philosophy yet have a dramatically different understanding of human nature. Additionally, the two philosophers make their arguments in strikingly different literary methods. Mencius believes that the “goodness of human nature is like the downward course of water” (147) in that people are naturally inclined to be good, and he makes this argument through conversations among friends and public figures. In contrast, Xunzi staunchly argues that “Human nature is evil” (179) and through essays claims that human nature’s only “goodness derives from the conscious activity” (179). The two philosophers both use many metaphors to explain their own interpretation of human nature in different ways. By exploring the philosophies of these two great Confucian thinkers, one better understands the multitude of ways human nature can be explained in Confucianism throughout Chinese history. As the “single most influential contributor to a view of human nature in Confucianized East Asia” (116), Mencius’ philosophy is fundamental. Mencius argues that human nature is good, and “ru” teachings furthered natural tendencies. To explain the natural goodness of human nature Mencius shows that “the goodness of human nature is like the downward course of water.” By this he claims, “there is no human being lacking in the tendency to do good, just as there is no water lacking in the tendency to flow downward” (147). Furthermore he...
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...ethical outlook that was developed further by prime disciples Mencius and Xunzi. This development took place amidst the background of arguments against other thinkers or in response to their criticisms of Confucianism. However, there was a disagreement within the Confucian school, as well, as shown by Xunzi’s critique of Mencius. It may be perceived that Mencius has the dominant position in the Confucian tradition as Mencius’s belief that human nature is originally good has often been interpreted into certain sayings of Confucius. Additionally, Xunzi’s claim that human nature is “evil” and that people can be transformed to become good may be inconsistent, as they imply Mencius’s claim that human nature is inherently good. For this reason, it is crucial to analyze both thinkers separately as integration of one thinker’s original thought to another may obscure the important aspects of the assimilated thinker’s position. Secondly, this method of analysis will show that the debate is not one conducted from extreme opposites as it may seem at first sight, for both Mencius and Xunzi agreed that man must cultivate his goodness consciously regardless of whether he is born with it or acquires it from the state. The differences in their views on human nature lead to the ultimate difference of interpretation of the betterment of human nature. Although both philosophers had differences, their ultimate goal was to suggest that human beings can be good and this is what the state needed in such...
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...Wang Fuzhi (1619–1692) was a Chinese philosopher of the late Ming, early Qing dynasties. Wang Fuzhi inherited and further developed the materialism of his predecessors and established the system of Simple Materialism. He believes that the world is material; material is primary and eternal. Wang Fuzhi (1619–1692) was a Chinese philosopher of the late Ming, early Qing dynasties. Wang Fuzhi inherited and further developed the materialism of his predecessors and established the system of Simple Materialism. He believes that the world is material; material is primary and eternal. Zhu Xi (1130 – 1200) was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who was the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China. His synthesis of Neo-Confucian thought long dominated Chinese intellectual life. He assigned special significance to the The Four Books and emphsized on the investigation of things (Gewu), and the synthesis of all fundamental Confucian concepts. Zhu Xi (1130 – 1200) was a Song Dynasty Confucian scholar who was the most influential rationalist Neo-Confucian in China. His synthesis of Neo-Confucian thought long dominated Chinese intellectual life. He assigned special significance to the The Four Books and emphsized on the investigation of things (Gewu), and the synthesis of all fundamental Confucian concepts. Huang Zongxi (1610 – 1695) was a Chinese thinker during the latter part of the Ming dynasty and the early part the Qing Dynasty. Huang was well-known for being one of the first...
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...Philosophy and Religion China’s history has been full of richness of culture, mainly due to how they progressed with philosophy and religion. Since the beginning of the Chinese’s civilization philosophy and religion has been at the forefront of Chinese culture. From the ancient oracle bones and bronze inscriptions to the development of different schools of thought, the Chinese have always been adept for the time period in philosophy and religion. And over the course of their history they have combined the two in a manner that suits their needs, through this evolution and combination of the two they have become a strong nation. Oracle bones were the corner stone of the early Chinese dynasties such as the Shang from around 1200-1050 B.C (Shang pg. 1). In one of the articles it attempts to explain the use of these bones by saying that the kings of the Shang Dynasty would “attempt to communicate with the spiritual forces that ruled their world by reading the stress cracks in cattle bones…” (Shang 1). These kings would apply a heated poker to the bones which would produce cracks that they would analyze based on the direction and deepness of the crack. Recently these bones and the records of the king’s analyzation were uncovered. An estimated 150,000 oracle bones were found, and have references to the god of the Shang, Di (Shang pg. 1). This type of analysis by the kings is an early form of a religion, and the building blocks for later philosophy and schools of thought in China’s...
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...Most Chinese have shown themselves to be concerned primarily with the human person and society. More interestingly, the Chinese people seem to have liberty in choosing their faith based on their own thought and beliefs. Confucianism is upon the most contradictory tradition of the Chinese religions. Confucius teachings were elaborated from two distinct people about human virtue and social life. Confucius was the founder of Confucianism and believed that government must be founded on virtue. In other words, a person should have a moral power to be a ruler. However, Confucius follower, Mencius, elaborated about human virtue and good government, proclaiming the original goodness of human nature. Mencius thought humans were predisposed to doing good things because of the compassionate characteristics humans hold. Further, humans in society have a tendency to act shameful in doing something wrong and to help other when we see someone in need. Conflicting to Mencius’ philosophy of human nature, are Xunzi’s views. Xunzi believed that humans are egocentric people and very driven by our desires. Further, he claimed that humans were originally evil and become good only through strict laws and harsh punishments. From my own personal belief, Xunzi’s views are much more credible and understanding. In my eyes, humans are naturally meant to do wrong. As discussed in class, this is a “dog-eat-dog” world. It is in our nature, once brought into the world, to defend ourselves in all possible ways...
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...Mencius is one of the most famous philosophers in Chinese history. He lived at a time when wars and conflicts in China were very common. Different kingdoms waged war against each other for the expansion of their own territory. Rebellion was also common as the subjects made attempts to topple their abusive and cruel ruler. In view of the importance of managing states and winning wars for expanding the territory of rulers, heads of states consulted known philosophers and intellectuals like Mencius whose wisdom proved to be vital in their rule. This essay seeks to discuss Mencius’ concept of ruler-ship and what to the mind of Mencius constitutes the best and most effective ruler. Initially, Mencius separates society into two classes of people. He thought that there are individuals who labor with their minds and there are those individuals who labor with their body. He thought that those who labor with their mind should be leaders or rulers. This emphasizes the need for rulers to be strong in intellect. This also emphasizes the need for an ordered society which is ruled by individuals who are mentally fit. While this can be considered as somewhat elitist, Mencius told that this is essential in achieving an ordered society. However, having a strong intellect is not enough to become an effective ruler. Mencius believed that virtue is essential for the successful ruler-ship. Virtue however, is not exclusive to the ruler. Mencius also believed in the inherent goodness...
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...There has been a lot of confusion about whether human nature is good or evil. Confucius believed that “all people [h]ave a duty to observe the rites and rituals handed by their ancestors” (Mencius 94). Two of Confucius’s followers, Mencius and Hsun Tzu had different views on his belief. Mencius believed that man is “[i]nherently good and with proper training could be perfect” (94). However, Tzu believed that man is “[i]nerently evil and required rites to keep them in check (Mencius 94). Looking back thought out history evil has always been naturally inside of us due to our selfishness, disregard for authority and our greediness. Man is only aware of his own needs, wants, pain, and pleasures. In “Examples of Selfish People,” Taylor describes...
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...A0110820B Tutorial D5 Question 1: Introduction For this paper, I will be discussing two opposing ideologies, Confucianism and Legalism. Towards the later part of ancient China (e.g Han dynasty), states started to adopt a mixture of Confucianism and Legalistic ideology. Why did Legalism and Confucianism fall off? In this paper I will explore and provide my own insights on the shortcomings of both ideologies; how Legalism was more persuasive in getting people to accept their ideas and more effective as an ideology and how Confucianism lost out in both aspects. Persuasiveness of Legalism The central idea of legalism was to provide absolute power to the person in charge and the supremacy of authority. Legalists like Han Fei Zi believed that human nature was “evil” and strict rules should be in place to ensure order, similar to a shepherd and sheeps3. With this theory in mind, the idea of absolute power was very attractive to rulers of states. Rulers will exercise the “two handles” of reward and punishment accordingly to keep their subjects obedient and loyal. This ideology is even more appealing towards newly founded states that lack in the department of control over its subjects. If states can adopt the legalistic way of ruling, rulers can exercise their control over the whole state to maintain order. Therefore it is more likely for rulers to be persuaded into adopting legalism as their state ideology since it aligns with their objectives. When compared to Confucianism where rulers...
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...to ethical/moral giving. In conclusion one path must prevail; it is the belief of this writer that the heart rules over the head. Most often the heart guides me to make decisions even when my head doesn’t see the logic in these actions. Giving anonymously from the heart is higher than giving out of duty from the head. Week 3 Essay 1– HU2740 – Ethics in Society Mencius, an ancient Confucian Chinese philosopher, is credited with saying, “If you let people follow their feelings (original nature), they will be able to do good. This is what is meant by saying that human nature is good. If man does evil, it is not the fault of his natural endowment. The feeling of commiseration is found in all men, the feeling of shame and dislike is found in all men; the feeling of respect and reverence is found in all men; and the feeling of right and wrong is found in all men. . . . Humanity, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom are not drilled into us from outside. We originally have them with us” (Chan, 1963, p. 55). This passage is one example of the debate over what guides behavior. Is it the head or the heart? As Mencius points out, it is not what is outside (logic and rules) but it is what is inside (humanity and righteousness) that guides people to make moral decisions. Not all philosophers agree...
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...instance, they all placed radically different values on education. In particular, Confucianism promoted intellectual pursuit for both the individual and the populace, whereas Legalism and Taoism had a diverging attitude that was strongly against education. The Confucian ideology is the only one of the aforementioned schools to place a heavy emphasis on intellectual cultivation for both personal purposes and for the sake of a virtuous government. The philosophy looks down on those with faith in intuition and natural understanding, which is a notion that is present in Taoism. They believe that genuine understanding derives primarily from studying a subject; it does not necessarily come to someone spontaneously. Confucius supposedly said, “By nature men are alike. Through practice they have become far apart” (Analects 17:2, Chan 29). He outlines that men are inherently good for the most part, but interaction with the surrounding environment can significantly mold their values. The influences of external forces are not always for the better and people will often need...
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...1 ANCIENT CHINA 1 Introduction and General Remarks for Ancient China Ancient civilizations of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians have long disappeared, but Ancient Chinese civilization and its transformation to modern times has lasted as the largest and most enduring one in human history. This is even more remarkable when observing the numerous leitmotifs of the Chinese society that were inaugurated so long ago, and many of these themes still resonate today. Ancestral worship, the Mandate of Heaven, and the numerous philosophical ideas, especially of Confucius, have been practiced or used for thousands of years. Remote and mysterious are two adjectives that Western Society has applied to China until recently. China is the only civilization where western thought had no influence until modern times, and also practically the only large region in the world where western men never ruled. For westerners, Chinese customs seem reversed to theirs. White is the color of mourning for the Chinese not black, and for them the left side is one of honor not the right side. Writing is read vertically from the top right-hand corner downward. These few differences reveal that Chinese culture evolved independently of western influences. One can only marvel at the longevity of Chinese civilization. Influence of Geography 2 Geography has played an important role in Chinese History as in most ancient, medieval, and modern cultures. While 85% of China is arid or inaccessible steppes...
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...Happiness By Huang Lu Xin Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological and religious and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. Various research groups, including positive psychology, endeavor to apply the scientific method to answer questions about what "happiness" is, and how it might be attained. It's of such fundamental importance to the human condition that Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were deemed unalienable rights on the United States Declaration of Independence. Philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing rather than simply as an emotion. Happiness in this sense was used to translate the Greek Eudaimonia, and is still used in virtue ethics. Happiness is a fuzzy concept and can mean many things to many people. Part of the challenge of a science of happiness is to identify different concepts of happiness, and where applicable, split them into their components. There is a book named ‘Handbook of Emotion’. The editors and contributors are foremost authorities who describe major theories, findings, methods, and applications. In the 2nd Edition of the Handbook of Emotion, evolutionary psychologists Leda Cosmides and John Tooby say that happiness comes from "encountering unexpected positive events". In the...
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...Buddhism Lecture notes of Chan Buddhism- Oriana Chinese Religion. -- At the first part of the semester, we looked at three different movements. The first was the notion of the Dharma king, and we talked about it in terms of the political background of what’s going on in China, that it is divided between North and South. And also the Chinese start to take seriously the notion of the impermanence of everything, including the dharma itself. And how’s that brings a notion that maybe we are in the final age, or maybe the final age is approaching. And one response to that is, somewhat ironically, an accommodation between the Buddhist Sangha and the son of heaven, where the son of heaven becomes not just a cosmic regulator of heaven on earth but also a regulator of the dharma, and in return to that – a sponsor of the dharma. So basically the monasteries become government officials, they need to be licensed, and yet on the other hand China becomes represented as Buddhist nation, and eventually they began to give emperors the title of “Bodhisattva”. Dharma king= very politically oriented Buddhism. We also talked about another popular religious movement – the three stages school, which begins to grapple with the question of how do you practice if this is the final age, what do you do when the scriptures don’t work, and we ended up with public-service Buddhism – social welfare Buddhism, talking about giving and not just to a stupa or to the sangha but giving to your neighbor...
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...Eastern Educational Philosophies Abstract Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are compared for historical, ideology, and epistemology, searching for Eastern Philosophy compatible to Western Philosophy. A research for possible influences on Education of Philosophy discovered that it was impossible to bring comparisons and even difficult to separate them into the key issues. Colonialism and Nationalism brings the two philosophies together. Even though the Western mindset can appreciate the fascination concepts it may be impossible to blend East and West. However, it is possible to juxtapose the very different philosophies as it may be represented in the arts. Even Western Philosopher who have been influenced by Eastern Philosophy, it is reasonable to believe it is the philosophers attempt to interpret Eastern Philosophy. However, it is impossible to replicate it. Instead the product is a hybrid and independent of either East or West. Eastern Educational Philosophies Eastern philosophy has a long and varied history. Asian ideas are among the oldest in the world. Great thinkers of the East have developed sophisticated cultural and political systems that have influenced other religions as well as western philosophy. This paper will examine ideological, epistemological, and historical differences in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Ways in which these philosophies have shaped higher education theory and practice are of major importance to educators. ...
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