Mencius and Xunzi are both masters of pre-Qin Confucianism, but their views on good and evil of human nature are diametrically opposed. So whose views represent the principles of Confucianism? Is Mencius right and Xunzi wrong, or Xunzi right and Mencius wrong, or both? The conclusion can only be that both are wrong, that is to say, both are arbitrary in logical speculation, and both are arbitrary, which is precisely the Confucian principle of * * * identity, including both. Confucianism is a moral system, and many of its truths are self-evident, which can not be proved by logical argument, nor does it need to be proved by logical argument.
The difference between Xunzi and Mencius, that is, Xunzi's evil nature and Mencius' good nature, lies not in the difference of Confucian benevolence thought, nor in the difference of Confucian logical argumentation methods. One of the important reasons why Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi can be juxtaposed as early Confucian masters is that they are consistent in thought and methodology. Xun Meng is different because they have different emphases on Confucian ideals and practice. On the surface, they are good in nature.
Both Mencius and Xunzi believe that sex is not immutable and everything is not determined, so the so-called good nature and evil nature are innate and acquired, and there is no good or evil. Good and evil are just different premises of their logical argument. Mencius' "righteousness" comes from the heart, but "people who are twice as bad as others can't make the best use of their talents." "If you get it, nothing won't last long; If you lose your support, there is nothing to look forward to. Benevolent people, "what you ask for is what you get, and what you give up is what you lose the day after tomorrow." Although Xunzi's benevolence and righteousness exceeded his nature, he "turned nature into falsehood" and "sought it by learning". If not, you can have it the day after tomorrow. So, it doesn't matter whether you have it or not. The key is to see if we can have it the day after tomorrow.
Since Mencius and Xunzi are consistent, why does one advocate good nature and the other advocate evil nature? The reason is that they live in different historical environments. In this regard, Sima Qian has long pointed out that the combination of Mencius and Xunzi in Historical Records has its full consideration.
Sima Qian commented on Mencius in Historical Records Biography: "At that time, Qin used Wuqi to defeat the weak enemy, and Tian Ji's disciple was used to face Qi in the East. The world is harmonious and balanced, and attacking is the virtue, and the virtue of Tang Yu mentioned by Monk is inconsistent with what he has done. " The so-called "what is done is consistent with what is not done" and "what is done is far from what is done" means that Mencius' theory is far from the social reality at that time, and he thinks that Mencius is too idealistic.
Sima Qian commented on Xunzi in the Biography of Mencius and Xunqing, saying: "People from Zhao came to study together since 1950. When King JiXiang died, Tian Pian's whole family died, and Xun Qing was the best teacher. Qi Shangxiu is short of medicine, but toasting or visiting Qi people, which is suitable for Chu State, while Chun thinks it was made by Lanling. Chun Shen Jun is dead and Xun Qing is ruined. For example, Zhuang Zhou and others don't know the customs, so they push Confucianism, Mohism and morality to flourish and decline, and tens of thousands of words follow. " The so-called "jealous of the chaos of the world's politics, the country's subjugation, and the monarch's chaos" shows that the social reality has been deteriorated by Xunzi and it is not allowed to put forward too high ideals.
The living environment of Confucius, Mencius and Xunzi belongs to the same type, and they all have the experience of confusing right and wrong and being old-fashioned. However, Confucius was born in the late Spring and Autumn Period and Mencius was born in the early Warring States Period. After all, the social and political situation is better, which makes people feel that there is still medicine to save. Xunzi was born at the end of the Warring States Period. As the last academic master in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, he felt the sinister social environment and the sense of responsibility and psychological pressure from the Confucian system. All above Confucius and Mencius. Therefore, Xunzi specially wrote an article on "Evil Nature", saying: "People are naturally good and obedient, so they fight for life and quit. They are loyal and reliable when they are born with disease and evil. Born with eyes and ears, with good feelings and obedience, he was born with fornication and died with courtesy. "
Mencius talked about benevolence and righteousness, and built the concept of benevolence and righteousness on the basis of psychological analysis of people. In order to emphasize benevolence and righteousness, he is deeply self-reliant and boastful, so as to inspire people and ask them to keep their original heart the day after tomorrow. As the saying goes, "a good policeman". On the surface, action the day after tomorrow is very important. Xunzi talked about benevolence and righteousness, but Xunzi was born at the end of the Warring States Period. At that time, everyone was striving for profit, and the gentleman was evil. Therefore, only by deeply understanding evil can people help themselves and require people to carry out strict reforms in their daily life and practice. That is to say, Buddhists will save the world from suffering at the end of the century. Although Mencius and Xunzi have opposite attitudes, their views on "benevolence" are the same, emphasizing the consistency of acquired practice, and their arbitrary logical argumentation methods are also the same.
The social and political structure has changed, and so has the academic development. In this respect, the legalists have made the most full exposition, such as "Five Mistakes of Han Feizi", which said: "The story is suitable for the world. Things are different, things are different. In ancient times, they competed for morality, while on earth, they pursued wisdom. Today, they compete for strength. "
The development of Confucianism has a changing process from "benevolence" to "righteousness" and "courtesy" to the transition to legalism. In this process, the theory of good nature is related to righteousness, while the theory of evil nature is related to ceremony, and its core is benevolence. The reason why "righteousness" and "ceremony" are still benevolence.
For this nature, the academic community has long pointed it out.
Zhu explained a sentence in Zhang Zai's Dream of Heaven that "the celestial bodies are not left behind, and the benevolent people are everywhere": "Hengqu said that" the celestial bodies are not left behind, and the benevolent people are everywhere ". These sentences are from the heart. How can Xun and Yang arrive? " The so-called "warm heart patch" shows that this problem is self-evident from the heart, not reasoning.
Liang Qichao said: "There are fundamental differences between Taoist philosophy and Confucian philosophy. Confucianism takes people as the center, while Taoism takes nature as the center. Both Confucianism and Taoism say' Tao'. However, Confucianism believes that the human heart is omnipotent and Tao is created by people's continuous efforts. Therefore, it is said:' People can preach, but it is not Tao.' Taoism regards nature as omnipotent, while Taoism regards nature as innate and unchangeable. Therefore, it is said,' Tao is natural.' "(See chapter 8 of Liang Qichao's History of Pre-Qin Political Thought and Taoist Thought (I), published by Zhonghua Book Company 1936 and reprinted by Oriental Publishing House 1996). Mr. Liang Qichao also said: "Xunzi and Mencius are masters of Confucianism, and their political theories. Therefore, it pays attention to spiritual expansion. Xunzi believed in the theory of evil nature, so he paid attention to material adjustment. ....................................................................................................................................................