Conflict of Opinion in the Ru School of Thought: Mengzi and Xunzi

Abstract

Spring-Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.) and Warring States Period (476 B.C.-221 B.C.), hold an important place in Chinese history, has referred to as a state of chaos in which political integrity and social order had broken down. So, in order to restore the social peace and prosperity, many schools of thought had been established. Therefore, this period has also referred to as a process that represents the beginning of Chinese Philosophy. Among these schools of thought, The Ru thought, founded by Confucius, has seen as a thought which built its philosophical structure on the foundation of the principle of morality. After Confucius, the other leading representatives of the Ru thought are Mengzi and Xunzi. The basic of their philosophy is based on human nature. In the perspective of Mengzi and Xunzi, morality is shaped on the characteristics of human which are innate and acquired. However, a significant difference stands out between the ideas of two philosophers. Mengzi explains; “human nature is good”. On the other hand Xunzi explains; “human nature is bad”. In this regard, two opposite theories of human nature has caused long discussions within The Ru thought. In this study, the opinion on human nature will be examined by reviewing both theories in detail. In this way, the original source of the conflict between the two doctrines will be analyzed.