This paper comprehensively and profoundly discusses the problems related to learning from the aspects of the importance, attitude, content and method of learning.
The full text can be divided into four paragraphs, the first paragraph expounds the importance of learning, the second paragraph expounds the correct attitude towards learning, the third paragraph describes the content and method of learning, and the fourth paragraph expounds the final destination of learning. The language of the article is concise, the metaphor is appropriate, the reasoning is in-depth and the structure is rigorous, which represents the level of the mature stage of pre-Qin essays.
Extended data:
The writing background of "encouraging learning";
During the Warring States period, slavery further collapsed, the feudal system gradually formed, and epoch-making changes took place in history. Many thinkers expressed different opinions on the social changes at that time from different positions and angles, and gradually formed different factions such as Mohism, Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism, which was called "a hundred schools of thought contend" in history.
A hundred schools of thought contend and wrote many books, publicizing their own views and criticizing others, resulting in a situation of "a hundred schools of thought contend". The important representatives of Confucianism in the Warring States period were Mencius and Xunzi. Mencius advocated the idea that "the industrious people govern the people, and the industrious people govern the people" to defend the ruling class, while Xunzi believed that human resources can conquer nature and should be used to serve mankind. His disciples Han Fei and Li Si became important representatives of legalists at the end of the Warring States Period.