From Theory To Practice, How To Practice Of Mencius Theory Of Human Nature

Kao Tzu’s theory of human nature thinks that the nature of people is physical desires. AndMencius’ theory of human nature thinks that the nature of people is moral will. They are bothaccordance with the basic characteristic of human nature, so they both belong to the basic categoryof ‘the nature of people’. But considering from the results of practice, the realization of physicaldesires is not only affected by personal efforts but also by the destiny. While the realization ofmoral will is completely the embodiment of individual will. Therefore, from the point of moralpractice, Mencius keeps the physical desires away from his category of “the nature of people” andadvocates that moral will is the nature of people. But in the aspect of the power of practice,physical desires have plenteous natural power, whereas moral will’s natural power is not enough.So the realization of physical desires is always nature, while the realization of moral will needs tobe based on individual moral efforts.In the process of moral practice, not only moral will but also physical desires play the roles.They always battle and game. Physical desires’ power is much stronger than moral will’s. So inbattles between them, physical desires always get the upper hand and eventually lead to thefailure of moral practice. Therefore, to ensure the final realization of moral practice, we need toget help from other powers to supplement the lacking of moral will’s nature power. These powersincludes the power of desire, the power of restriction, the power of reason and the power ofremind. Among all these four powers, the power of reason is the moral training skill mostlystressed and relayed by Mencius.