A Comparative Study Of Xun’s And Mo’s Theory Of Human Nature

The problem of human nature is a very important problem in ancient Chinese thought.The wise men in different periods put forward different views and discourses.Especially in the spring and autumn and the warring states period,when Confucianism and moism were regarded as two prominent schools of learning,there was a grand occasion of "all the world speak of nature".Confucius was the first person to put forward the concept of human nature in the history of ancient Chinese thought: "close in nature,practice far away",which was also the beginning of the good and evil of human nature,and also emphasized the role of nurture.Xunzi’s views on human nature are especially fierce.He clearly puts forward the concept of "evil nature",and believes that "the evil nature of human beings,their good is also false".At the same time,he also emphasizes the important role of the acquired etiquette to educate human nature.Compared with Confucian concern for human nature,mohism does not seem to pay too much attention to human nature.In the existing works of mohism,there is no explicit mention of the word "nature".Xunzi and Mozi,as the representatives of the two prominent schools of thought in the pre-qin period,are paid more attention to their views on human nature,especially the former.There are many similarities between their views of human nature.It can be seen from the existing literature and classics that both Xun and Mo have the tendency of "evil nature" to human nature,but both of them pay more attention to the guidance of nurture.However,there are great differences between the two.The most superficial one is that Xunzi directly put forward the idea of "evil nature".Unlike Mozi,there is little direct reference to human nature in the existing works.Xunzi is obviously "with the nature and qualitative",while Mozi is "with the nature and not qualitative".Another important point is that Xunzi believed that human nature could be improved through the cultivation of human nature.Mozi also valued the guidance of nurture,but he did not think that human nature will change,only that human nature can be used.Both Xunzi and Mozi regard human nature as the basic point,and apply it to their own political ideas while clarifying and analyzing human nature.Xunzi believed that human nature could be civilized and improved by the acquired etiquette.However,it was the upper rulers who controlled the culture during the spring and autumn period and the warring states period.Xunzi’s idea of human nature was obviously manifested in his political idea of emphasizing the top-down management and rule.Mozi,on the other hand,believed that human nature remains unchanged,and that "heaven will guide",and that "both love and benefit each other" weakened the role of the ruling class and put more emphasis on equality.