What is the central argument in Mencius that fish is what I want?

The central argument is: "Life is what I want; Righteousness is what I want, and I can't have both. Those who give up their lives for righteousness are also. "

Through the metaphor of fish and bear's paw.

"I want what I want" comes from Mencius' Gao Zi. The Fish I Want is a masterpiece of Mencius' in-depth discussion on human life and death based on his theory of good nature. Emphasize that "justice" is more important than "life" and advocate giving up life for justice.

Mencius regarded this thought as the essence of China's traditional moral cultivation, which was a far-reaching thing.

Extended data:

works appreciation

I want fish and bear's paw. I'd rather give up fish than bear's paw when I can't have both at the same time. I cherish life and righteousness. In the case that I can't get both at the same time, I'd rather give up my life and get the essence.

Mencius compared life to a fish and righteousness to a bear's paw, thinking that righteousness is more precious than life, just as bear's paw is more precious than fish, and naturally the idea of "giving up life for righteousness" came into being. This proposition is the central argument of the whole article.

Brief introduction of the author

Mencius (about 372 BC-about 289 BC), whose real name is Ke, is Zi (to be tested, Zi or Zi Ju). Han nationality, a native of Zouguo (now Zoucheng City, Shandong Province) in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, was a great thinker, educator, politician and writer in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States Period. One of the main representatives of Confucianism.

Baidu encyclopedia-I want fish.