Mencius

2 Pages 424 Words

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 naïve 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. The Book of Mencius mentions how if ...