性善论
Mencius on Human Nature
Confucianism · conceptMencius's doctrine that human nature is inherently good. People are born with the Four Seeds of virtue (ren, yi, li, zhi), which must be cultivated to flourish. Mencius argued people are born with four innate seeds of virtue: compassion (ren), shame (yi), deference (li), and discernment (zhi). This became the orthodox Confucian position on human nature.
What Are the Key Facts About Mencius on Human Nature?
- Tradition: Confucianism
- Chinese: 性善论
- Category: Concept
- Definition: Mencius's doctrine that human nature is inherently good.
What Concepts Are Related to Mencius on Human Nature?
Ren 仁What Other Guides Cover Confucianism?
Frequently Asked Questions About Mencius on Human Nature
What did Mencius say about human nature?
Mencius (Mengzi) argued that human nature is good (xing shan): people are born with four 'sprouts' (siduan) — commiseration, shame, deference, and right/wrong — that, cultivated, become the virtues ren, yi, li, zhi.
What is the 'sprout' (duan) argument?
Mencius points to spontaneous reactions — a child about to fall in a well evokes commiseration in any witness — as evidence of innate moral sense needing nurture, not invention.
How did Mencius differ from Xunzi?
Mencius held nature is good and needs cultivation; Xunzi held nature is disposed to disorder and must be transformed by ritual (li) and education. They anchor the two poles of Confucian anthropology.
Did Mencius use the 'water' image?
Yes: he compares human nature to water that naturally flows downward (good), and to a mountain stripped of trees by axemen — its goodness is real but easily damaged by environment.