“Tabula Rasa” is part of John Locke’s philosophy and is a Latin principle of understanding that the nature of humans is a blank slate. John Locke is “one of the most important political theorist of the enlightenment, [and] a founding figure of the school of philosophy known as empiricism” (Locke 125). As an Empiricist he holds that “knowledge derives from experience rather than from pure reason” (Short). “John Locke viewed human nature as not inherently self-interested or aggressive” (Locke 125). Mencius and Hsun Tzu are two philosophers of the warring states period of China. Mencius says that human nature is good, and Hsun Tzu believes that it is evil. The Philosophy of both confucians’ on the subject of human nature directly counters both
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His philosophy of human nature is the people are inherently good. An evil wicked human being such as Hitler still had the capacity of doing well. That is his perception of what a righteous nature means; “people are born capable of being good” (Mencius 96). Kao Tzu’s outlook on human nature is independent of Meniscus. He believed, “humans are neither … good nor ... evil, [as he states], The nature of things is like swirling water” (Mencius 94-95). Kao Tzu uses water because it can be easily manipulated through external forces. Kao Tzu believes that you start out with a “blank slate”, and depending on your environment, and circumstances you may encounter throughout your life, you will be molded by, or take the shape of your experiences. Whether you end up better or worse, the message he is conveying, is that by birth, no matter one's misfortune, we have the characteristic of being good. Kao Tzu’s philosophy correlates exactly with John Locke's. Experiences are the determining factor to one’s own …show more content…
“Empiricists hold that knowledge derives from experience rather than from pure reason. This implies a distinction between experience and reason. Reasoning is something we do. Experience is something we suffer” (Short). As stated before, your environment and circumstances you may encounter throughout your life, will mold and shape who you are. A new born baby has no sense or definition of what good and evil are. Also a baby grows up in poverty will be more likely influenced to a life of crime to support his/her family. In contrast to a person who grows up in a better environment? Their circumstances will"[The] source of ideas every man has wholly in himself … [comes from]... sensation …, and reflection” (Locke 127). “The correlation between poverty and crime is something that appears to be obvious" (Petrovec). “No abundant or profound studies appear to explain how to avoid measures that seem to contribute to the well-being of citizens but actually increase the gap between the rich and poor part of the population” (Petrovec). Human Nature is “the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans”
His philosophy of human nature is the people are inherently good. An evil wicked human being such as Hitler still had the capacity of doing well. That is his perception of what a righteous nature means; “people are born capable of being good” (Mencius 96). Kao Tzu’s outlook on human nature is independent of Meniscus. He believed, “humans are neither … good nor ... evil, [as he states], The nature of things is like swirling water” (Mencius 94-95). Kao Tzu uses water because it can be easily manipulated through external forces. Kao Tzu believes that you start out with a “blank slate”, and depending on your environment, and circumstances you may encounter throughout your life, you will be molded by, or take the shape of your experiences. Whether you end up better or worse, the message he is conveying, is that by birth, no matter one's misfortune, we have the characteristic of being good. Kao Tzu’s philosophy correlates exactly with John Locke's. Experiences are the determining factor to one’s own …show more content…
“Empiricists hold that knowledge derives from experience rather than from pure reason. This implies a distinction between experience and reason. Reasoning is something we do. Experience is something we suffer” (Short). As stated before, your environment and circumstances you may encounter throughout your life, will mold and shape who you are. A new born baby has no sense or definition of what good and evil are. Also a baby grows up in poverty will be more likely influenced to a life of crime to support his/her family. In contrast to a person who grows up in a better environment? Their circumstances will"[The] source of ideas every man has wholly in himself … [comes from]... sensation …, and reflection” (Locke 127). “The correlation between poverty and crime is something that appears to be obvious" (Petrovec). “No abundant or profound studies appear to explain how to avoid measures that seem to contribute to the well-being of citizens but actually increase the gap between the rich and poor part of the population” (Petrovec). Human Nature is “the fundamental dispositions and traits of humans”