Abstract

‘Human nature’ is a widely discussed ethical concept in both philosophical traditions in the West and the East. In ancient China, Mencius, one of the most influential philosophers, claimed that human nature is good. However, he did not appeal to logic when presenting his argument, instead he provides seemingly anecdotal evidence to his claims. How can we provide a plausible interpretation for Mencius’ claim? One problem arises as one assess his arguments. Mencius held the belief that human nature, attributed to tian (‘Heaven’ or ‘Sky’), lies beyond human influence. However, he also contended that human nature embodies a normative aspect and is inherently virtuous. This raises the question of how Mencius reconciles the innate and normative aspects of human nature.
In my paper, I argue that xin, a concept introduced by Mencius, plays a vital role to understand his argument of human nature is virtuous. In Chinese philosophy, xin, though literally means heart, serves the dual functions of feeling and thinking. According to Mencius, the xin is where moral tendencies are rooted, and our moral actions are motivated. I argue that the very concept of xin, is fundamental for Mencius to reconcile the innate and normative aspects of human nature. It is also key for helping us to understand Mencius’ argument that human nature is good.