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Hsun Tzu on Human Nature

Hsun Tzu on Human Nature. Berger Intro to Asian Religions. Hsun Tzu’s Historical Background. Hsun Tzu 荀子 (310-238 BCE) Born in north central China but emigrated to state of Ch’i to study Confucianism Became a master of Ch’i Hsia Academy, a center of interscholastic philosophical learning

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Hsun Tzu on Human Nature

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  1. Hsun Tzu on Human Nature Berger Intro to Asian Religions

  2. Hsun Tzu’s Historical Background • Hsun Tzu 荀子 (310-238 BCE) • Born in north central China but emigrated to state of Ch’i to study Confucianism • Became a master of Ch’i Hsia Academy, a center of interscholastic philosophical learning • Advisor to Ch’i and several other imperial courts • Assassination of patron ended his political career • Most famous students, Li Si and Han Fei Tzu, became teachers of Legalist school, denouncing Confucianism

  3. Important Terms • 性 xing = “nature;” disposition, temperment • 惡e = “evil;” wicked, hateful • 善 shan = “good;” beautiful, auspicious • 情 qing = “emotion;” having heartfelt desires • 偽 wei = “conscious activity;” artifice

  4. Hsun Tzu’s Arguments for the Selfishness of Human Nature I • The natural tendency to be drawn to sense pleasures (pp. 492-93) • Ancient sages realization of natural human selfishness (p. 493) • Ritual as learned, not inborn (493) • The contrast between natural emotional response and learned conscious activity (494-95)

  5. Hsun Tzu’s Arguments for the Selfishness of Human Nature II • Since all desire comes from lack, desire for goodness also comes from its lack (495) • Mencius selectivity regarding morally good human emotions (496) • Explanation for religion and ritual resides in human selfishness (496) • Perfectibility of all human beings through attention to propriety (497)

  6. A Review of the Confucian Debate on Human Nature • The issue of inborn emotions • Mencius: humans born with desire and reflection • Hsun Tzu: desires are inborn, reflection is learned • The issue of culture • Mencius: good culture comes from good nature • Hsun Tzu: culture meant to manipulate nature • Whose position is most plausible?

  7. for Next Class • Sourcebook 461-475

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