Mencius Views on Human Nature free essay sample

He was believed to have similar view to the philosopher Confucius, and he had a strong view on human nature. Mencius believed that human nature was intrinsically benevolent. Mencius believed that people had four virtues that drove their thoughts and actions. Mencius is quoted to say, â€Å"Therefore, it can be suggested that without a mind of commiseration is not human, that a person without a mind of mortification is not human, that a person without a mind of conciliation is not human, and that a person without a mind of discernment is not human. The mind of commiseration is the driving force of benevolence. The mind of mortification is the driving force of righteousness. The mind of conciliation is the driving force of propriety. The mind of discernment is the driving force of wisdom. A person has these four driving forces, just the same as he has four limbs. † (Mencius, Book VI) These four virtues were applied to all men. We will write a custom essay sample on Mencius Views on Human Nature or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Which indicated that Mencius thought no man was born having an inherently bad human nature. This can be backed up when Mencius talks to Kao Tzu about human nature. Kao Tzu thought that humans were like â€Å"whirling water,† that they do not show any preference for good nor for bad, just as whirling water does not. Mencius states that, â€Å"water does not show any preference for either east or west, but does it show the same indifference to high and low? Human nature is good just as water seeks low ground. There is no man who is not good; there is no water that does not flow downward. † (Mencius, Book IV) From these two examples we can see that Mencius could easily be called an extremist on his view of inherently good human nature. Another view of Mencius is that righteousness is internal rather than external. This can be compared to the views of Confucius on Filial Piety. In book six, section five, Mencius asks Kao Tzu, â€Å"Which do you respect, your uncle or your younger brother? He will say, â€Å"My uncle. † â€Å"When your younger brother is impersonating an ancestor at a sacrifice, then which do you respect? † He will say, â€Å"My younger brother. † You ask him, â€Å"What has happened to your respect for your uncle? † He will say, â€Å"It is because of the position my younger brother occupies. † Confucius would agree and disagree with Mencius’ view. Confucius would put more emphasis on the fact that his uncle takes precedence over his younger brother, but he would also agree that the elder’s respect naturally comes before the younger. The philosopher Xunzi would very much disagree with Mencius. Xunzi believes that human nature is inherently bad. He disagrees with Mencius belief that because humans learn they are good. He thinks Mencius never understood human nature and never came to the realization that human nature differs from conscious actions. Xunzi’s view is that nature is given by heaven and cannot be learned, and that conscious activity can be learned. He proves this by saying when a man is hungry he will eat, but if he is in presence of his elder he will wait to eat until his elder had eaten. The man eating when he is hungry is evidence that human nature does what needs to be done and is not taught, but when the man waits to eat until his elder has eaten (a good act), that is conscious activity and it is taught. Therefore, in the view of human nature Mencius and Xunzi differ very much. I disagree with Mencius’ view on human nature. Having heard of and seen the many negative actions of humans I believe that human nature is inherently bad. Therefore, I have a preference more towards Xunzi’s view.