Briefly describe the similarities and differences between Mencius and Xunzi's theories on human nature

Differences:

1. The background of the theory of human nature is different in different times

Meng Zi lived in the era after the Zhou Dynasty, when the slavery system was basically

disappeared. At that time, Shang Yang advocated a change in the law, pursuing institutional change and the establishment of a centralized

authoritarian state.

Xunzi lived in the late Warring States period, when the feudal landowning class had already

realized that the maintenance of rule could not be accomplished by a benevolent government alone, and that the strengthening of the rule of law

was even more urgent.

2, the specific content of the different

Meng Zi with this kind of upper gifted to the benevolence to show that human nature is good, he put forward

the theory of human nature is a kind of subjective consciousness of the idealist theory of sexual goodness.

Xunzi argued that human beings are born with great desires and like to fight for profit and goodness, and that goodness is merely a disguise for evil, a kind of "pseudo". People

are born with a tendency toward evil, and if they are not restrained and educated, they will eventually become

"evil".

3. Different starting points

Mengzi did not totally reject the statement that "birth is called nature", and the biggest difference between human nature and animal nature is that human beings have the attribute of moral understanding, which is the second attribute of human nature.

Xunzi did not agree with Mengzi's view of human nature, and believed that "nature" refers to the traditional and natural attributes that people are born with, which cannot be changed through learning and imitation.

This "nature" cannot be changed through learning and imitation, however, man's understanding and definition of morality is learned

and cannot be called man's nature.

Similarities:

1. Both theories of human nature are abstract in nature

Their discussion and understanding of human nature is different from the modern dialectical materialism's perception of human beings,

Both Mencius and Xunzi defined the theory of human nature as abstract and innate.

2. Both emphasize the importance of acquired cultivation

They believe that acquired education plays an indispensable role in the development of a person's life

. As the ancients said, all day thinking

is no match for a moment's study of knowledge, and there is no way to walk a thousand

miles without step-by-step accumulation. These ancients said with a warning reasoning are telling us after

day learning the importance of accumulation.

3. Both of them have the same ultimate goal in discussing the theory of human nature

Meng Zi emphasized the goodness of nature, and if it could be continued

and developed, then everyone could have good morals, and live in peace

and happiness. Xunzi's emphasis on sexual evil, if it can serve as a warning to people,

and if it can be restrained and transformed into goodness, then the country will be able to live in peace and security.

In fact, no matter whether it is good or evil, "goodness of nature" is the desire for a better society

and "evilness of nature" is only a warning to the people, the two Confucian masters are

for the sake of the people and the country. Their ultimate goal is the same.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Theory of Human Nature