Mencius Human Nature Essay

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The book, Mencius, is a collection of dialogues Mencius had with kings, dukes, and military men, in which Mencius philosophizes his Confucian ideals. Mencius was considered one of the greatest philosophers of ancient China. Human nature is like water, there is no water that does not flow downward just as there are no humans that are not good (122). Human nature does not show any bias towards good or bad, just like water human nature can be guided to a certain endpoint (122). As a result man can be made to do bad (122). Humans have an instinct to do good, but sometimes they stray from that instinct and do bad (129). All humans are capable of doing good (125). Some humans become good by nature and others become bad by nature, an example would be the good King Wen and the cruel King Wu (125). Human’s are sensitive to the suffering of other humans (38). In human nature the morally strong look after those who are not morally strong (89). Human’s love those that love them (94). Humans will follow benevolent rulers and will be willing to die for them (26). A gentleman’s main characteristic and concern is to have a high level of morality (152). A gentleman wants nothing more than to have peace between all people (149). A gentleman is never distressed in the face of adversity (94). A …show more content…

A true king attends to the needs of his people (9). A true king also attends to the business of his people (54). The people will be pleased to serve a king if he honors those who deserve it (37). An ideal ruler does not impose onto the people what they dislike (81). An ideal ruler employs the good and wise into his government (37). An ideal ruler does not give himself leisures at the expense of the people (7). A true king has the old people eating meat and wearing silk, and a true king has the masses housed and fed (6). The people will love and die for a true benevolent king

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