ipl-logo

Compare And Contrast Confucius And Mencius

1353 Words6 Pages

In the discussion on the methods of governing and administration of a state, one cannot leave out the models proposed by Confucius as well as Mencius. Both advocated that the ruler or the government has to rule by virtue and strengthen moral education among its people. Political leaders have to set moral examples for the people to follow, and to be benevolent towards their subordinates and citizens. By doing so, that would bring about social stability and population growth within the state, also creating conditions that would lead to an improvement in the welfare of the people. By fulfilling his duties to the people, a just and benevolent ruler would then be justified to rule by the Mandate of Heaven. Although both Confucius and Mencius have a lot in common with regards to governance, the two do have varying opinions on certain matters such as the legitimacy when rulers are overthrown, and the relationship between the ruler and his people.
In precedence to coming up with policies and administrative measures, one has to first consider the issue of human nature as it plays an essential role in the development of a state 's political system. In the Confucian philosophy, the belief is that goodness is innate in humans and that everyone shares this same trait [子曰：“性相近也，习相远也。”] (Analects, 17.2). Mencius further elaborated on this doctrine by stating that it is mankind’s natural tendency to be kind to others, just as water would naturally flow downwards (Mencius, 6A2). Mencius also

Show More
Related

  • Dbq The Chinese Bureaucracy

    310 Words  | 2 Pages

    As the administration system became more advanced, people expected their rulers to be virtuous and have good morals. In Document 5, the Chinese bureaucracy discusses the way a government should rule. One debater mentions that the landlords and the elite should not take an extreme advantage of their positions. Those at the top of the social ladder should be fair to both their equals and their subordinates. He also mentions that one of the main bonds between the Chinese commoners and the ruler is that there must exist some sort of trust.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Government Of Charlemagne And Tang China

    538 Words  | 3 Pages

    Confucian principles emphasized the ruler's responsibility towards the people, and the idea of "benevolent governance" or "ruling by virtue" was upheld. The government officials were selected based on merit through the civil service examination system, which aimed to promote capable individuals to serve the state and the people. Tang Dynasty is known for people's regulations like births, deaths and

    Read More

  • AP World History: Guided Reading Questions

    2993 Words  | 12 Pages

    What can we learn about Confucianism from this excerpt? Master wants people to follow the rules. Master has three good ideas sufficiency of food, sufficiency of military equipment, and the confidence of the people in their ruler. Master says that military equipment is the most important. The goverment will not do anything if their is no order.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Han China And Rome

    1002 Words  | 5 Pages

    Confucianism had a vital role in how the Han was able to maintain political authority for four centuries. Although the early Han rulers adopted from the Qin the harsh enforcement of law and consequences, the reign of the Han Dynasty was moral and practical. Lu Jia wrote about how the Qin failed to rule humanely placing fear of the law in those under rule. Lu Jia compared the Han to the Qin writing, “One who is rich in virtue has far-flung influence; one who is ample in brute strength may be merely overbearing,” and in the Xinyu he blames the absence of disorder on human and righteous rule. The people of China grew weary of tyranny and rebellion struck the region resulting in the Shi Huangdi dying with China in a period of warring states and his successors giving in to Han rule.

    Read More

  • Lao Tzu Vs Machiavelli

    411 Words  | 2 Pages

    The works of Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli bring to light a very interesting question, "is it better to be feared or loved?" Lao-Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher that believed in peace, simplicity, and letting the world do its work without intervention until absolutely necessary. Machiavelli, an Italian politician and writer, emphasized the necessity for war, and addressed the wicked nature of men. Both of these individuals have very contrasting points of view in regards to ruling a kingdom. Three of these major differences were about war, human nature, and the use of mercy.

    Read More

  • Confucianism In The Iliad

    2121 Words  | 9 Pages

    Confucius and his disciples believed that people had a natural sense of empathy and that we owed it to one another to be kind to each other. This is a really big belief in modern society as well. We are taught as children that we should be kind to one another and care of one another. This has been a teaching throughout the centuries of human existence, and this isn’t just mentioned in the writings of Confucius and his disciples it’s also in the writing of other literary works as well. The Bible tells it reads to, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:32).

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Confucianism And Legalism

    503 Words  | 3 Pages

    Confucianism enforced harmony, between people while legalism enforced strict following of rules. For confucianism was built on the belief that harmony results when people in society accepted their place in their lives. However, Legalism was built on the fact that all humans are more inclined to do the wrong thing instead of the right thing due to the motivation of self-interest. Confucianism is described through the five key relationships: father to son, elder brother to younger brother, husband to wife, elder friend to younger friend, and ruler to subject. But legalism was described

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Hanfeizi And Confucius

    1047 Words  | 5 Pages

    By following these theories, it is clear that both are in direct conflict with one another. In regard to the nature of man, this is obvious, with Confucius writing on inherent goodness and Han Feizi writing and agreeing on the opposite. This leads to some interesting situations, particularly for the societies which would aim to adopt each philosophy. However, both did agree that order was necessary and through the state order can be achieved. Confucius thought emphasized this in The Doctrine of Learning by stating that “the ancients who wished to manifest their clear character to the world would first bring order to their states” (Chan p. 86).

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Tang And Song Dynasties

    485 Words  | 2 Pages

    Confucianism thought that a ruler should be like a father by setting good examples for the people of China. He also thought that a ruler should be honest, good, and wise in order for the people to follow him. “But he said the best way to rule was through an honorable government and right relationships”

    Read More

  • Daoism And Buddhism Similarities

    434 Words  | 2 Pages

    That the way to find peace was by allowing the natural things to happen and letting yourself to go along with them rather than trying to control the world to your own needs and desires. Confucianism, like Buddhism, is about following teachings rather than worshiping one god. The teachings claim that all humans are essentially good and this must be practiced toward all humans. Virtues and moral wisdom are essential components of a good person. Education and learning are also highly

    Read More

  • Difference Between Aristotle And Confucius

    1550 Words  | 7 Pages

    Their rationalities are still being used today. They were incredible masterminds with awesome impact in the antiquated society. Confucianism imparts to Aristotle mindfulness that for people to be great, they require moral astuteness and in addition different demeanors of character, yet Confucianism places more prominent accentuation on the part of reflection and concentrate in the improvement of good insight (Provis, 2017). Over the next several paragraphs, it is my goal to address the following: 1)

    Read More

  • Differences Between Mencius And Hsun Tzu

    797 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Man’s Nature Is Good and Man’s Nature Is Evil, Mencius and Hsun Tzu argue about the true meaning of human nature. Mencius believed that humans are inherently good and Hsun Tzu believed that humans are naturally evil. Is it possible humans can be both good and evil? When it comes to whether human nature is good or evil, most people will choose one or the other.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Frederick Douglass And Machiavelli

    1886 Words  | 8 Pages

    Sound Logic (An Connection between Douglass’ Narrative and Lao-tzu, Machiavelli, Rousseau, and Jefferson’s work, Concerning Politics) The issue of slavery is one of the most controversial and difficult subjects that has ever been discussed. While most people seem to believe that slavery is wrong, there are a few who completely support the idea of slavery. A lot of the opinions that are formed by the population is based off of the basic morals of their government. Frederick Douglass was a black slave who managed to escape him life of imprisonment and make it to the North.

    Read More

  • Aristotle Compare And Contrast Confucius And Lao Tzu

    576 Words  | 3 Pages

    As Confucius states, “if good men were to govern the domain for a hundred years, they could wipe out violence and put an end to killing,” (Analects 90). While Aristotle and Confucius disagreed on the role of law in society—Aristotle thought that laws could make people moral where Confucius thought that if people could respect their leaders, then they would try to emulate them—the ideas of the two are more similar than they are

    Read More

  • Plato And Confucius Similarities

    1085 Words  | 5 Pages

    There are two giants in the Axial Age of human history, Confucius and Plato, who are considered as the landmark in the oriental and western world. They are great philosophers, ideologists as well as excellent educators, whose thought have profound influence to the oriental and western world. Confucius’s ideas maintain authority for more than two thousand years, which have intimate connections with development of Chinese federal society. Even to this day, it still remains practical significance and reflects the glorious radiant. Plato’s doctrine is a source of Western political thought.

    Read More

More about Compare And Contrast Confucius And Mencius

Open Document