Confucianism and Taoism

Mencius (371-289 B.C) used within his philosophy the foundational principle that "the nature of man is originally good" (1). Linked to Confucius by studying under a disciple of Tzu-ssu who was the grandson of Confucius, Mencius was regarded as a prestigious scholar who struggled to forge an "idealistic wing of Confucianism" (68). Laboring in retirement, he composed the seven books of the Mencius, a record of dialogues between feudal lords, his disciples and himself (68). These writings were later incorporated into the Four Books.

Mencius' importance is that he developed the famed theory of the original goodness of human nature. Whereas Confucius insisted upon the need for jen (human-heartedness) and argued for the importance of distinguishing between yi (righteousness) and li (profit), he did not explain why human nature should be conceived as e

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cording to Confucius this inner goodness is born within. The Mohist School could not concur, asserting instead that all-embracing love should be regarded as if an artificial ingredient to be added (72). Although Confucianism and Taoism were the two dominant strains of Chinese philosophy between the 5th and 3rd centuries B.C., they were actually numbered among a vast grouping of schools called the "hundred schools" (30). These were later classified as these six schools: Ying-Yang School of Cosmology which blended the feminine principle of yin with the masculine principle of yang to explain universal creation (30); Ju chia or the School of Literati which consisted of scholars and teachers of the ancient classics and promoters of the ancient cultural legacy (30); the Mohist School; the Ming chia or School of Names who expounded upon the distinction between what are called names and actualities (31); Fa chia or Legalist School emphasizing fa as a pattern or law, this group of statesmen held that good government was based on law rather than moral institutions as stressed by the Literati (31); and Tao-Te chia or School of the Way who centered their metaphysics and social philosophy around the concept of Non-being which is the Tao or
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Approximate Word count = 1559
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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