Investigate On Mencius’s Animadversion Of Xunzi From The Angle Of The Theory Of Human Narue

The comparison of the two thoughts between Mencius andXunzi in the history of Chinese Philosophy has been working early in theHan Dynasty. The approaches to the comparison which was made bythe thinkers are almost the same.The procedure is which starts with thetheory of human nature,continues comparing the theory of moralcultivation,ends up the political doctrine.The conclusion of it containstwo tendencies: one is that thinks the two thoughts are diametricallyopposed and incompatible like water and fire;the other is that insiststhem are seemingly contrary,but can be virtually reciprocalcomplementarity.I agree the latter standpoint.I discuss on Mencius’sanimadversion of Xunzi preliminarily from the angle of the theory ofhuman nature in the dissertation,though my capability is not enough.Ideem that the theory “xingshan” of Mencius and the other theory“xing’e” of Xunzi should bemcomplementary and corroborative eachother,and reaches a brand-new theoretical height.The study about the theory of human nature,is the constantresearch object in the history of Chinese Philosophy.What on earth is thehuman nature?Is it good or evil?Neither of Mencius and Xunzi debatesdistinctly, nor of them distinguishes completely.Moreover,they debatefrom different aspects respectively,and emphasize their own ideasunilaterally.Mencius develops his view inwards﹑carries into deeply anduplifts to perch.Xunzi expands his view outwards﹑carries into the broadand pushes into outside.They develop forward the discussion about thetheory of human nature together,thus enrich and deepen largely theknowledge of the theory human nature for our own--Human essential stipulation.Mencius deems that human nature is good, emphasizesmaintaining the mind and cultivating the stipulatuion.Xunzi thinks thathuman nature is evil,emphasizes practicing the subjective initiativeacquired and human being takes the most important value in theworld.He also looks with favor on improving the“human nature”throughtheir own efforts for themselves and transforming the society.His ideasmentioned above reflect positive life values and social attitudes.Thespirit of self-strengthening which lasts forever for our Chinese nation hasbeen shaping by him.It has four aspects on Mencius’s animadversion of Xunzi in thechapter of “xing’e”.First,it is the debation about the definition of“humannature”. In my opinion,there is the bifurcation about the definitionof“human nature” for them.There is also the difference concerning theobject and level of human nature.It is bifurcate with the connotation inthe conceptions used by them when they debate.Therefore,althoughthis debation isn’t finished, it could expand the understandingabout“human nature” for people.Second,it is the further discussion about the concept of“humannature” and what is the main portion of the connotation which lies inthe concept mentioned above.The author thinks,though the twothinkers all recognize that human nature has two respects—bothnatural and moral attributes;but Mencius focuses on moral attributes,emphasizes moral self-discipline. Xunzi focuses on the natural attributes,emphasizes external ethics. The theoretical premise of them isdifferent,the way of moral cultivation isn’t consistent;but they canachieve the same aim,that is,become a noble moral person.Third,the main idea is the understanding respectively about theexistence of the good deed and evil deed as a kind of socialphenomena.The author thinks,the common view for Mencius and Xunziis to deem the“human nature” is good or evil transcendentally at thebeginning of their debation.Then,make them become the proof ofevaluating moral is noble or hypocritic,give them the appellation whichhuman nature is good or evil—Instead,they are originally the results of moral judgements and moral evaluations.And,the logical deductionprogress of the two theories of human nature is almost the same.Although there are theoretical defects on the two theoriesrespectively,the debation of “xingshan”and“xing’e”seems paradoxicalapparently,it can actually be received one effect,that is,reach thesame goal by different means.Fourth,or the last,there is the argumentation about thefeasibility and social function of the two theories of human nature.In myopinion,though the“xingshan” theory of Mencius isn’t easy for testing bythe objective facts,embodies the systematic reflection to the idealmoral personality,reveals the possibilities and ways of moralperfection,has a strong academic vitality.Although the“xing’e” theoryof Xunzi is more attached to the moral social function,the confirmationisn’t easy to realize theoretically.Furthermore,although the two kinds oftheories of human nature make due contribution to the developmentof people’s cognition differently,they also have their own congenitalhistoric limitations which are unable to overcome.Both of them can’texplain the whole history is the reality that human nature has beenchanging constantly.