An Caring Ethical Interpretation Of Mencius' Theory Ideal Personality

Mencius' theory of ideal personality pays attention to the inner saints of achieving ideal personality,emphasizes the internal expansion of the innate goodness of human beings.At the same time,Mencius also attached importance to the externalization of personality practice.This is embodied in empathy for others.From this point of view,Mencius' theory of ideal personality contains certain caring characteristics.It is these caring characteristics that make Mencius' theory of ideal personality and caring ethics closely related,and it is worth further exploring the relationship between them.However,people often interpret Mencius' ideal personality theory with virtue ethics.Critics have always thought that virtue ethics has the tendency of self-interest,which makes Mencius' ideal personality theory has the risk of self-interest tendency from the perspective of virtue ethics.The self-interest tendency of virtue ethics is mainly manifested in two aspects: 1.People with virtues show asymmetry between their concern for others and their concern for themselves.2.The reason why a man wants to help others is that he wants to be a man of virtue.Mencius' theory of ideal personality under the background of virtue and ethics is also faced with these two problems to a certain extent.In view of these two levels of problems,it seems that solutions can be found in care ethics.In the actual caring relationship,the caregiver should take caring actions according to the needs of the cared for.The caregiver's action motivation is based on the needs of others.Therefore,caring ethics can rule out the possibility of self-interest tendency in a certain sense.Mencius' ideal personality theory can solve the problem of self-interest tendency with the help of its caring connotation.In the process of shaping the ideal personality,the altruistic actions carried out by the individual can be in line with the process of establishing a caring relationship.First of all,all people are born with "compassion",which can show concern for others.First of all,all people are born with "compassion",which can show concern for others.The higher the moral realm of an individual,the stronger his ability of caring.Secondly,since Mencius put forward the premise that "everyone can be Yao and Shun",everyone can regard becoming a saint as his goal and desire of moral cultivation.Moral people out of their own care,according to the desire of others to become saints to give specific help behavior.Third,the person being helped gives grateful or contradictory feedback to the moral person.The combination of these three links forms a complete caring relationship.The combination of these three links forms a complete caring relationship,and individual action motivation can be attributed to altruism.Therefore,the exploration of the caring connotation of Mencius' ideal personality theory not only enriches its theoretical content,but also proves that Mencius' ideal personality theory will not face the problem of self-interest even from the perspective of virtue ethics.