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    Is Human Nature Originally Good or Evil

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    Iana
    The document discusses different philosophical views on whether human nature is originally good or evil. Mencius believed that human nature is originally and innately good, as evidenced by the four innate tendencies or "seeds" of compassion, shame, courtesy, and a sense of right and wrong. In contrast, Hsun-tzu believed that human nature is originally evil and that goodness comes only from conscious effort and education/training. Kao-tzu took a middle view that human nature is neither inherently good nor evil, similar to how water does not inherently flow in any direction but simply follows the lay of the land.

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    Is Human Nature Originally Good or Evil

    Uploaded by

    Iana
    89 views14 pages
    The document discusses different philosophical views on whether human nature is originally good or evil. Mencius believed that human nature is originally and innately good, as evidenced by the four innate tendencies or "seeds" of compassion, shame, courtesy, and a sense of right and wrong. In contrast, Hsun-tzu believed that human nature is originally evil and that goodness comes only from conscious effort and education/training. Kao-tzu took a middle view that human nature is neither inherently good nor evil, similar to how water does not inherently flow in any direction but simply follows the lay of the land.

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    The document discusses different philosophical views on whether human nature is originally good or evil. Mencius believed that human nature is originally and innately good, as evidenced by the four innate tendencies or "seeds" of compassion, shame, courtesy, and a sense of right and wrong. In contrast, Hsun-tzu believed that human nature is originally evil and that goodness comes only from conscious effort and education/training. Kao-tzu took a middle view that human nature is neither inherently good nor evil, similar to how water does not inherently flow in any direction but simply follows the lay of the land.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    89 views14 pages

    Is Human Nature Originally Good or Evil

    Uploaded by

    Iana
    The document discusses different philosophical views on whether human nature is originally good or evil. Mencius believed that human nature is originally and innately good, as evidenced by the four innate tendencies or "seeds" of compassion, shame, courtesy, and a sense of right and wrong. In contrast, Hsun-tzu believed that human nature is originally evil and that goodness comes only from conscious effort and education/training. Kao-tzu took a middle view that human nature is neither inherently good nor evil, similar to how water does not inherently flow in any direction but simply follows the lay of the land.

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    of 14

    Is human nature originally

    good or evil?
    Mencius
     Idealistic wing

     Human nature is originally , innately good

     Thinking, compassionate heart is a gift


    from Heaven = defines our essential
    humanness and sets apart from animals.
    Four incipient tendencies or “seeds”

    o Compassion
    o Shame
    o Courtesy
    o Sense of right
    and wrong
    Four Virtues

    Benevolence
    Dutifulness
    Observance
    of the rites
    Wisdom
    Mencius

     Selfish desire threatens to


    overwhelm the four seeds
    (ensnarement of the human
    heart)
     Selfishness is the source of all
    evil
    Mencius

    Given the right nourishment there is


    nothing that will not grow, and
    deprived of it there is nothing that
    will not wither away.
    Hsun-tzu

    Man is born with desires. If desires are


    not satisfied, he will seek some
    means to satisfy them.
    There are no limits and degrees to
    which one seeks, thus, one will
    inevitably wrangle with others.
    Hsun-tzu

    Man’s nature is evil; goodness


    is the result of conscious
    activity
    Hsun-tzu

    Theory of Strife
    seeds Violence
    Crime
    Wantonness
    Hsun-tzu
    A warped piece of wood must wait until
    it has been laid against the
    straightening board, steamed and
    forced into shape before it can become
    straight, because by nature it is warped.
    Proper education and training
    Kao-tzu

    It is certainly the case that water


    does not show any preference for
    either east or west.

    Human nature does not show any


    preference for either good or bad
    just as water does not show any
    preference for either east or west.
    Kao-tzu
    Human nature is good just as water seeks
    low ground. There is no man who is not
    good; there is no water that does not flow
    downwards.
    Jan van Eyck (1390 - 1441)
    Adam and Eve. 1432.
    Oil on wood. St. Bavon, Ghent, Belgium.
    Founder of the Early
    Renaissance style in the
    Northern Renaissance.
    • Born in the eastern
    province of the
    Netherlands Limburg.
    • Taught the art by his
    brother Hubert van Eyck,
    with whom he created
    the masterpiece
    • The Ghent Altarpiece
    (1425-1432), which they
    started in 1425
    Thank you!

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