Comparison Between Plato And Mencius On Good

This thesis attempts to analyze and demonstrate the understandings of good in Plato’s and Mencius’thought which in fact function as the starting point of Chinese and Western philosophy.It begins with discussions of the feasibility of the comparison between two great thinkers, Mencius and Plato, who are regarded as the founders of Chinese and Western philosophy respectively. Then it pursues to demonstrate Plato’s reflection on good and his feeling of truth, which indeed drove Plato to seek the true good. According to Plato, the true good can only be obtained in reason. To demonstrate this statement, Plato analyzes into individual good and common good, and argues that people without reason are like those cave prisons. He further calls for releasing from prisonhood through using reason.Meanwhile, Mencius’s handling of the issue of good is different. Based on his observation that human beings desire for good, Mencius draws a conclusion that human nature is good. This is the so-called theory of good human nature. Within this theory, Mencius redefines benevolence(仁),righteousness(义)and sincerity(诚)The right way for human beings is to follow their good nature, which can be revealed only when one is true to oneself. We call this kind of life the self-cultivation(修身养性)It concludes that, although Plato and Mencius encountered the same issue of good, they develop two different treatments, the former proposes an epistemology, while the latter advises a certain way of life. These two treatments have been fostering two different thought, i.e., Chinese and Western thought, as well as two different types of human existence. And they are both good.