Mencius Essays (1189 words) - Confucianism, Chinese Philosophy

Mencius The philosopher Mencius considered himself a follower of Confucius, and this is exactly what he was. He was Confucius's greatest disciple. They were both teachers and tried very hard to influence the rulers of their day, although they both had very little luck. He was the chief architect of Confucian thought. He added components and gave others great emphasis. Mencius introduced the large component of compassion to Confucianism. He believed in the essential goodness of human nature and was highly skeptical of the government. Mencius believed that the qualities characteristic only to man were innate. These qualities were jen and yi. Confucius believed in ritual and humanity. Also religion as a motive of right conduct concerned Mencius much less than it did Confucius. Both Mencius and Confucius believed that it was the duty of a ruler to provide for the welfare of his people in both material goods and moral guidance. According to Mencius The people are the most important element in a nation; the spirits of the land and grain come next; the sovereign counts for the least. The master said He who cultivates the five treasures and eschews the five evils is fit to govern. The five treasures are being generous without having to spend which can be done by allowing people to pursue what is beneficial to them, making people work, but only reasonable tasks, ambition without rapacity, authority but no arrogance, and he is stern but not fierce. The four evils are terror, which rests on ignorance and murder. Tyranny, which demands results without proper warning. Extortion, which is conducted through contradictory orders. Bureaucracy, which begrudges people their rightful entitlements.(p.100, 20.2) Unlike Confucius, Mencius believed that if a ruler cannot provi de this for his people than the people no longer have to be loyal and if they believe strongly enough they can revolt. When Mencius found Prince Hui living in the lap of luxury while his people were perishing for lack of economic reforms he said In your kitchen there is fat meat, and in your stables their are sleek horses, while famine sits upon the faces of your people and men die of hunger in the fields. This is to be a beast and prey on your fellow men. They both believed that rulers were divinely placed in order to bring peace and order to the people they rule. The master said lead them by political maneuvers, restrain them with punishments: the people will become cunning and shameless. Lead them by virtue and restrain them with ritual: they will develop a sense of shame and a sense of participation.(p.6, 2.3) Confucius argued that the interests of the people should be first and the interests of the ruler should be last. Mencius emphasized goodness of human nature as the key to the recognition of social and political significance. As far as what is genuinely in him is concerned, a man is capable of becoming good, said Mencius. That is what I mean by good. As for his becoming bad that is not the fault of his native endowment. The heart of compassion is possessed by all men alike; likewise the heart of the heart of respect and the heart of right and wrong.(p.162, 6a6) Confucius said Is goodness out of reach? As soon as I long for goodness, goodness is at hand. They both believe that if you really want to be good you can, just by actually wanting to.(p.32, 7.30) They defiantly agree that all men have tendency to be good. Confucius spoke lots about the important things about what he was believed to be humane and Mencius expanded on the idea of humanity. The master said Whoever could spread the five practices everywhere in the world can implement humanity. Courtesy, tolerance, good faith, diligence, gener osity. Courtesy wards off insults, tolerance win all hearts, good faith inspires the trust of others, diligence ensures success, generosity confers authority upon others.(p.86, 17.6) So basically to be humane you just have to practice these five things everywhere you go to show humanity. According to Mencius people are prone to be good, he says human nature is not does not show any preferences for good or bad just as water