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Mencius

            The ideas and theories that both Mencius and Hzun Tzu held entailed to whether or not man's nature was good or evil. Mencius claimed that human nature was naturally good. Man was born innocent and nave and it was only through time, war and experience that man became corrupt. However, Hzun Tzu felt that human nature from birth was stained with corruption and full of evil and selfishness. Mencius and Hzun Tzu's attitudes towards human nature were equally debatable and controversial. These two great philosophers equally contributed to Confucianism and were both prominent founders of the Confucian belief. Mencius' view on man and his nature were moralistic whereas Hzun Tzu's view encompassed a more legalistic world (Liu, 2002). Hzun Tzu approached man through an authoritative manner where a ruling governor would discipline the people. Mencius felt it necessary to leave decisions as well as choices to the people; he felt whatever morals and values they have learned would aid in the process of proper decision-making. Each philosopher has their own distinct belief as to the thought of human nature those of Mencius and Hzun Tzu although somewhat concrete in his own opinion and seemingly believable oppose and contradict one another. .
             Hzun-Tzu believed that man was by nature evil. Unlike Mencius, he had little faith in humanity and did not feel that man could be depended on whereas Mencius felt that good is found in humanity and man's mind is ultimately good (Shun, 2000). Hzun Tzu felt that man was born evil and it would only be through education and study that a mind at ease could emerge. Mencius had an extremely contrasting theory; he felt that the mind was innocent and that only man could destroy what was pure. The ideals of Hzun Tzu oppose the doctrines thought and taught by the Confucius faith. Confucian believers are to believe that man is good and by no means evil or bad.


Essays Related to Mencius

1. Mencius

Mencius believes that it is our nature and mind that determine what we are. ... So, Mencius believed that though all humans are innately good, the realization of that good comes with self-cultivation and self-knowledge. Hsun-tzu could not accept Mencius idealistic view of human nature, nor did he believe that Heaven was the sole arbiter of human behavior. ... In my view of these two philosophers, I feel that Mencius' views are much more common in most religious traditions today. Mencius beliefs are a lot like Christianity, which is the religion that I am most familiar with. ...

  • Word Count: 363
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Mencius on Human Nature

While both Confucius and Mencius believed that virtues could be developed, it was Mencius that approached the naturally arriving question of whether man is fundamentally good or bad. ... To further illustrate, Mencius proclaims that, "Reason and rightness please my heart in the same way as meat pleases my palate" (Mencius 127). ... On the heart of shame, Mencius says, "A man must not be without shame, for the shame of being without shame is shamelessness indeed" (Mencius 146). ... To formulate the importance of shame, Mencius says, "Only when there are things a man wil...

  • Word Count: 1787
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. Mencius- Hsun Tzu- Hobbes

Mencius believed that human nature is good. ... Mencius was known as being one of the most famous followers of Confucius. ... Mencius believed the reason why there are differences in human moral behavior is due to the fact that all people begin the same but grow up differently. ... Mencius believed our good is similar to the wheat, our good has to be nourished and cultivated or it will be ruined. ... Hsun Tzu also a noteworthy figure in the Confucian tradition believed in the education of Li, but he disagreed with Mencius point of view, that human nature is good. ...

  • Word Count: 541
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Confucious

Mencius was one of Confucius's greatest disciples along with Hsun-tzu. Mencius introduced the large component of compassion to Confucianism. ... Mencius believed that the qualities characteristic only to man were innate. ... According to Mencius people are prone to be good. ... Mencius talks about the order of whom to respect. ...

  • Word Count: 921
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Confucianism: Flow of Ethics

Of the ancient Confucian scholars the two most important are Confucius and Mencius. ... Mencius put a heavy emphasis on the role of human nature in self-cultivation. ... In his treatise on Mencius entitled, "Meng Tzu tzu-I shu-cheng," Tai Chen asks: Confucius says in the Analects that "by nature human beings are alike," and Mencius said that, "human nature is good." Are Mencius and Confucius speaking of the same "nature?" ... In this dialogue Mencius points out two important things. ...

  • Word Count: 2432
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Ancient China and Confucianism

Mencius and Xunzi are two of the more well known and developed followers of the Confucius teachings (Berling, Judith A). Mencius was perhaps the first most influential interpreter of Confucius who very much developed upon the original teachings of the master. ... Mencius usually referred to the idea of the seed and that we all have this seed in which benevolence can grow. Mencius also believed that the good and talented ought to help those who are less fortunate than themselves (Loi, Shun, Kwong). ... Contrary to Mencius, Xunzi believed that human nature was evil. ...

  • Word Count: 1232
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography

7. Was Chinese Thought Primarily Concerned With God And The Afterlife?

Some known, learned, men who thought of these way were Confusius, Mencius, Xunzi, and Laozi. ... Mencius (372-289 B.C.) was a very wise man. ... Mencius agreed with light taxes, less wars, education, harmony and cooperation. ... In the Confucian and Mencius era thoughts were primarily based on being courteous, loyal, and trying to become the best you can be. ...

  • Word Count: 799
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Tradition and Duty - Women in China

Women had the greatest control over their sons as exemplified in "The Mother of Mencius." Mencius's mother followed the rules of propriety by being an outstanding mother that raised Mencius well (Xiang 102). ... Without his mother, Mencius would not have grown to become a scholar, she controlled what he did as a child and that allowed him to become the important scholar he became. ...

  • Word Count: 1251
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. The People of New York City after 9/11

In the excerpts from The Ape and the Sushi Master, de Waal uses the similar views of Westermarck and Mencius, to counterpoint the theories of Hobbes and Huxley. Whereas Mencius and Westermarck think that humans are born with morality and natural kindness, Hobbes and Huxley view humans as selfish and nasty. I agree with the idea shared between Westermarck and Mencius, that humans are naturally kind. ... The effect that the events of September 11th , 2001 had on New York society, supports the arguments of Westermarck and Mencius; humans tend toward good by natural instincts. ...

  • Word Count: 1324
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

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