Comparing Mencius, Hs�n Tzu, And Thomas Hobbes

As the topic of human nature became more significant, there were many debates of what the definition of human nature was. Although it is hard to tell what the correct answer to that is, there were any theories that were brought forward to keep the thought going. Four of the most famous philosophers for their ideas on human nature include: Mencius, Hsün Tzu, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes.

Mencius believed that human nature was inherently good. Through his writing, Mencius tends to use metaphors to get his point across, some of which were very hard to understand. One that he uses to explain his theories is, “Human nature is inherently good, just like water flows inherently downhill” (Mencius 79). He makes it seem as if it is obvious that human nature is good by the way he states how water flows downhill. He also states, “You can make them evil, but that says nothing about human nature” (Mencius 79). Even though some points were made effectively, his writing style and overuse of metaphors that no one understands made his argument weak. Overall, Mencius truly believed that the human nature of man was inherently good.

Hsün Tzu believed that the human nature of man is evil. At the end of almost every paragraph of Tzu’s essay style writing ends in "It is obvious from this, then, that the nature of man is evil” (Tzu 86). This

form of repetition can sometimes annoy the reader as if the author does not think they understand what he is trying to get across. He also states, "Similarly, since man's nature is evil, it must wait for the instructions of a teacher before it can become upright”(Tzu 85). Tzu thinks that the only way man can be good is if they are taught to be so. All in all, Tzu strongly believed that the human nature of man was evil and they needed a teacher to show them how to be good.
John Locke believed that man was born a blank slate and that all knowledge men gain is strictly through life experience.

One of Locke’s largest points is "All ideas come from sensation or reflection” (Locke 101). He thinks that man is completely blank when they are born and that their basic senses are what gives them knowledge. Locke states, “Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper” (Locke 101). Locke is basically saying that human nature is like a blank slate, and how men experience life in their own ways is what makes them good or evil. Overall, Locke believes that any and all knowledge is only gained through life

experience.
Thomas Hobbes believed human nature was animalistic and man had to be taught how to be good. Hobbes truly sees all men as equal human beings and says, "Nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of body and mind” (Hobbes 95). He feels that the only thing that sets men apart is their personal desires in life. He also states, “The passions that incline men to peace fear of death, desire of such things as are necessary to commodious living, and a hope by their industry to obtain them” (Hobbes 98). Men live to be better than others and can sometimes be materialistic, but they are still equal in body and mind. All in all, Hobbes believed that human nature was animalistic and that man needed a teacher to help them learn how to be good.
Personally, I felt that Thomas Hobbes was the strongest and most compelling from the four philosophers. Throughout his writing he never once refers to man as being born evil and this shows that he sees the good in people. I found his idea that man is born “animalistic” is the perfect way define how man is born because man is not born evil, but, instead born with the natural need to protect themselves from harm around them. I also agree with Hobbes about how man learns from their surroundings. If man is good then they are raised to be good, if they are bad, then they were raised to be bad. Thus, Hobbes had the strongest and most compelling argument of the four philosophers.
In conclusion, four of the most famous philosophers for their ideas on human nature include: Mencius, Hsün Tzu, John Locke, and Thomas Hobbes. Mencius believed that human nature was inherently good. Hsün Tzu believed that the human nature of man is evil. John Locke believed that man was born a blank slate and that all knowledge men gain is strictly through life experience. Thomas Hobbes believed human nature was animalistic and man had to be taught how to be good. In the end, I personally felt that Thomas Hobbes was the strongest and most compelling from the four philosophers.