Kevin Perez
Dr. Fuller
19 October 2015
First Paper Assignment
Mencius: The True Confucius Student
The forth-fronting idea that has been questioned for centuries consists of dissecting what separates humans from the rest of mankind. Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius spends a lifetime deciphering how humanity should live their lives to ensure that is well spent. In Chinese Confucius philosophy, there exists a debate that argues who is the best recipient of Confucius’ ideals and teachings. Various scholars argue that Xun Zi’s understanding of Confucianism is the closest related, while others state that Mencius’ inhered the word of Confucius the best. Based on side-to-side comparison Mencius’ actions show his consistency of developing …show more content…
His full name was “Meng Ke.” Mencius lived in the second half of the Zhou dynasty, a period of social and intellectual enlightenment. The founders of the Zhou dynasty had justified their rule by claiming that Heaven mandated it. Heaven is a higher power that is responsible for the general course of history, and favors those with Virtue. Mencius has shown that just because people do wrong bad, it doesn’t mean that their minds are not still innately good. His argument solidifies that they simply have lost contact with that mind. Mencius uses an agricultural metaphor. He describes this predisposition as sprouts of virtue. Mencius located these proud of virtue within the heart in which Mencius identifies as the foundation of our cognitive and affective dispositions. Human nature is good; becoming a good person is the result of developing our instinctive predispositions toward compassion, virtue, perception, and respectability. These tendencies are shown in emotions, linked with the virtues. Each human innately has a heart with the capacity for these emotions. They will manifest themselves in each human. If we reflect on these ideas, we can develop our natural capacities into …show more content…
So the mind must be the site of moral goodness.” Mencius states that Ox Mountain is naturally barren. Human beings by nature have dispositions of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. However, if the environment does not nurture these qualities shall not thrive. There’s not reason to think that humans are naturally bad. Mencius thinks that ethical education is related to good gardening. Good habits allot to a flourishing life. What’s important is learning how to understand the teachings of Confucius and how to properly assess them with the surroundings of an individual. This is vital because it gives perspective to an individual. To be able to processes a question and apply it to your personal life takes critical thinking skills and a little bit of creativity. Mencius said, “A person, in giving full realization to his mind, knows his nature; and knowing his nature, he knows heaven. By preserving his mind and nurturing his nature, he serves heaven. Whether his life be long or short does not weigh on him; he cultivates himself and waits for death. This is how he stands firm in his fate.” Although there are various ideas when it comes to Confucius ideas having a solidified foundation of one is important to be able to adapt to all aspects of Confucius’
Dr. Fuller
19 October 2015
First Paper Assignment
Mencius: The True Confucius Student
The forth-fronting idea that has been questioned for centuries consists of dissecting what separates humans from the rest of mankind. Ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius spends a lifetime deciphering how humanity should live their lives to ensure that is well spent. In Chinese Confucius philosophy, there exists a debate that argues who is the best recipient of Confucius’ ideals and teachings. Various scholars argue that Xun Zi’s understanding of Confucianism is the closest related, while others state that Mencius’ inhered the word of Confucius the best. Based on side-to-side comparison Mencius’ actions show his consistency of developing …show more content…
His full name was “Meng Ke.” Mencius lived in the second half of the Zhou dynasty, a period of social and intellectual enlightenment. The founders of the Zhou dynasty had justified their rule by claiming that Heaven mandated it. Heaven is a higher power that is responsible for the general course of history, and favors those with Virtue. Mencius has shown that just because people do wrong bad, it doesn’t mean that their minds are not still innately good. His argument solidifies that they simply have lost contact with that mind. Mencius uses an agricultural metaphor. He describes this predisposition as sprouts of virtue. Mencius located these proud of virtue within the heart in which Mencius identifies as the foundation of our cognitive and affective dispositions. Human nature is good; becoming a good person is the result of developing our instinctive predispositions toward compassion, virtue, perception, and respectability. These tendencies are shown in emotions, linked with the virtues. Each human innately has a heart with the capacity for these emotions. They will manifest themselves in each human. If we reflect on these ideas, we can develop our natural capacities into …show more content…
So the mind must be the site of moral goodness.” Mencius states that Ox Mountain is naturally barren. Human beings by nature have dispositions of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom. However, if the environment does not nurture these qualities shall not thrive. There’s not reason to think that humans are naturally bad. Mencius thinks that ethical education is related to good gardening. Good habits allot to a flourishing life. What’s important is learning how to understand the teachings of Confucius and how to properly assess them with the surroundings of an individual. This is vital because it gives perspective to an individual. To be able to processes a question and apply it to your personal life takes critical thinking skills and a little bit of creativity. Mencius said, “A person, in giving full realization to his mind, knows his nature; and knowing his nature, he knows heaven. By preserving his mind and nurturing his nature, he serves heaven. Whether his life be long or short does not weigh on him; he cultivates himself and waits for death. This is how he stands firm in his fate.” Although there are various ideas when it comes to Confucius ideas having a solidified foundation of one is important to be able to adapt to all aspects of Confucius’