Xunzi Human Nature Analysis

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Recommended: Confucianism and its influence upon Chinese society

Source 3 – Selections from Xunzi: Human Nature is Evil (Week 5)
• How does Xunzi’s understanding of human nature compare to that of Mencius?
• Why might Xunzi and Mencius, from the same background, both self-appointed interpreters of Confucius, and only one generation apart, come up with their respective understandings of human nature?
• What implications does Xunzi’s understanding of human nature have for family life and government?

Xunzi believes that human nature is inherintally evil and that people are born their sensory desires which, when indulged, will lead to ‘licentiousness and chaos’.
Mencius argues that human nature is originally good. the main difference between Xunzi’sandMencius’sconcep- tions of xing lies in their different …show more content…

While Xunzi thinks that the hear t/mind naturally prefers sel f-i nterest,
Me ncius thinks that the heart/mind naturally prefers propriety.

the main difference between Xunzi’sandMencius’sconcep- tions of xing lies in their different conceptions of the heart/mind. In making their respective state- men ts on xing, what Mencius and Xunzi are primar ily convey ing is their disagreem ent on what the natural preference of heart/mind is, and what mak es it possible for the heart/mind to find pleasure in goodness. While Xunzi thinks that the hear t/mind naturally prefers sel f-i nterest,
Me ncius thinks that the heart/mind naturally prefers propriety. the main difference between Xunzi’sandMencius’sconcep- tions of xing lies in their different conceptions of the heart/mind. In making their respective state- men ts on xing, what Mencius and Xunzi are primar ily convey ing is their disagreem ent on what the natural preference of heart/mind is, and what mak es it possible for the heart/mind to …show more content…

Confucianism is fundamental to Chinese civilization, much more so than Buddhism. It is essentially a socio-political creed. Basically, Confucianism is concerned about the development of ethical behaviour, starting with individuals, and then the individuals using this developed ethical behaviour in the public arena, serving as ministers of the state. In the central thinking of Confucianism, it is not enough to develop your own ethical qualities. You are then duty bound to try to use these in the service of the state, and the state in Confucian terms ought to be a state that is run by ethical men.
- Article 4: ‘The ministers and officials of state should make proper behaviour their first principle’
- Article 4: ‘When people behave properly the Government will be in good order’ -> Common link of Confucian idea of ethical behaviour a public issue.
The introduction of a system similar to China’s mandate of heaven to strengthen the power and validity of the Emperor. However, unlike China, Japan removed the idea in China that if the emperor was failing in his duties that it would be reason for him to be removed from the throne, the emperor being responsible for everything down to nature itself. Instead Shotoku’s constitution, while still claiming the Emperor’s connection to heaven, went to claim that it was on the onus of the ‘inferior’ to obey and that if they didn’t, it is then that the natural result

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