Mencius, Mozi and Xunzi Philosophical Ideas - Essay Example

Mencius also highlighted that living immoral life was a result of the inability to influence the human character. Mencius taught on the need for acquiring knowledge through studying books and strives to achieve life experience. Mencius also believed that person has the power to determine his or her destiny and taught his followers to practice righteousness and uphold justice (Mengzi & Bryan, 44). In his emphasis on practicing morality and ethics, Mencius believed that a ruler who does not listen to the demands of his or her subjects deserves death (Zhuangzi & Chuang-Tzu, 43).

He disliked violent leaders and emphasized respect for all people from their leaders. His moral teachings and practice for uprightness to all people made Mencius a strong follower of Confucius than any other follower before or after him. According to Xun (36), Xunzi was also a Chinese philosopher and a follower of Confucius. He lived between 312-230 BC. Unlike Mencius who believed that human being is born with goodness, Xunzi believed that human being could be taught how to act morally through education and those moral values were developed to rectify the evil ways of a human being.

Therefore, he could not match the moral standards of Mencius. Xunxi’s reasoning that a person is only taught how to live morally upright is an argument that could easily make one belief in his thoughts due to the simplicity of his reasoning (Xun, 41). This is because generally people follow what they are taught and tend to believe in it and inborn conviction.Question two Mencius, Mozi, and Xunzi believed in the existence of heaven. Mencius believed that heaven cannot defend a human being irrespective of how he or she conducts herself (Mengzi &, Bryan, 49).

He also believed that the ways of a human being cannot be changed by what is invisible since this cannot influence human life by any means. Therefore, a person must live a normal life not based on hope for life after death. On the other hand, Xunzi has a strong conviction that human being has the ability to change his or her destiny (Xun, 570. Therefore, he believes that human beings expectation for a better life is what influences his or her life. In this view, Xunzi believes that the desire to get to heaven can influence him or her into observing moral principles in society according to the teachings of Confucius.

According to Zhuangzi & Chuang-Tzu (52), Mozi was also a Chinese philosopher whose teachings led to the establishment of mohist religion. He mainly focused on ethics in leadership and was seriously opposed to the teachings of Confucianism and Daoism. Mozi believed in the existence of the Holy Ghost and emphasized people should do well to others. He also said that people should respect heaven or else they get punished for their disrespect. Mozi held a view that heaven did not change human morals but purposed to punish or reward people according to their deeds and practice of morality.

Therefore, those who lived morally upright life they would get rewards while evildoers would be punished. Question 3Han Fei Zi was a Chinese philosopher who established a school of law to teach people his doctrines regarding his perception of good governance (Mengzi &, Bryan, 46). In his teachings about his view on good governance, Han Fei Zi emphasized that rulers should strive to bring people into the understanding of the doctrines that will guide them in doing what is right. He also believed that a good ruler should listen to the views of his people.

He should give those working close to him or his assistants an opportunity to implement what they desire if only it is upright (Ivanhoe, 43). This is a reward for those who have great ideas (Confucius, 123). However, those who are lazy and have nothing to offer to the people deserve punishment. Mencius's views on leadership were that a good leader should strive to please his subject by practicing morality (Zhuangzi & Chuang-Tzu, 29). He believed that when a leader disrespects his subject or fails to perform his duties effectively he deserves death.

According to the views of Mencius, it is not easy to win the favor of your entire subject as a leader and therefore, sometimes it may be necessary to force the subject to follow what did not do (Schwartz, 31). This should not be the reason for the death penalty on the leader since they also have they free will to make decision differ in opinions.Regarding Han Feizi’s views, rules are supposed to be forced to the people for them to understand the will and desires of the leader (Zhuangzi & Chuang-Tzu, 34).

It is not easy for people to learn and follow the rules without coercion.