Reading and appreciation
Student Gong raised the issue of human nature more comprehensively and discussed it with Mencius. In addition to Gao Zi's point of view, he also cited two other points of view, both of which are well-founded and convincing. This time, Mencius did not cross-examine or push the absurd way to debate, but positively expounded his views on human nature. To say it is an exposition is actually a reaffirmation, because its main contents, namely, the "four hearts" of sadness, shame, respect and right and wrong, and their internal relations with benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom have been put forward and expounded in On Ugly Sun. Just there, starting from "everyone has a heart that can't bear others", discussing the relationship between "four hearts" and "benevolent politics" is full of political psychology. Here is purely from the perspective of human nature to answer students' questions about whether human nature is inherently kind.
In fact, it is difficult to tell whether human nature is good as seen by Mencius, inherent vice as seen by Gou Zi, or neither good nor evil as seen by Gao Zi. Even with the development of philosophy today, scholars often fail to reach an agreement on this ancient topic. Therefore, Mencius' view can only represent the words of one family.
What deserves our attention is that Mencius further put forward the question that "what you seek is what you get, and what you give up is what you lose". Mencius believes that not only human nature is good, but also human nature has "four hearts", and even the four qualities of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom are "inherent in me, but I don't think about it at ordinary times, so I don't think about it." So what we have to do now is to find benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom in ourselves and in our own nature, "make the best of people" and give full play to our natural qualifications. This reminds people of what he said in "Ugly Sun", that people have four ends of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom, and "there are still four bodies". Benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom have been rooted in our nature, just as our hands, feet and limbs have grown on us. Because we are too natural and used to it, we don't realize it. If someone suddenly says to us,' I found all my hands and feet on us! "We don't think he is a hundred percent idiot. But today, someone suddenly said to us, "I found that benevolence, righteousness and wisdom are our nature!" " "Do we think he is an idiot or have discovered the New World?
Throughout the ages, in the southeast and northwest, many people have sought benevolence, righteousness, courtesy and wisdom on earth, but they are all looking for dolls on their backs. Mencius slapped us and said, isn't the doll on you? Therefore, we all reflect on ourselves, look for the good roots of benevolence, righteousness, propriety and wisdom in our body and nature, and cultivate them to make them thrive.
Aside from the abstract philosophical debate, does Mencius' thought of "good nature" have its positive and healthy significance?